CARTHAGE — While the construction season wanes, two projects are about to begin here a few months later than expected.

The village Board of Trustees in February hoped construction on a new court and the recreation building would begin in early summer. At Monday's meeting, trustees thought crews would mobilize this coming Monday, but construction likely will begin the first week of September instead.

The main project will transform the municipal building's garage, which once housed the Carthage/Wilna Fire District's trucks, into a modern courtroom.

Leon Heath, owner of Jordstat Construction, the Alexandria Bay firm whose bid was accepted last month, said Tuesday that the start date was delayed because the village had not signed the contract on time. Carthage President G. Wayne McIlroy said the contract was signed Monday night.

After Jordstat completes the courtroom expansion at the end of November, people no longer will have to endure the stuffy room or wait in the hallway on busy nights when the room gets too crowded, Mr. McIlroy said. Several offices will be added, including an attorney-client room, so counsel does not have to be given in the hall where people are lined up waiting to get inside.

"It's just not a good situation," Mr. McIlroy said. "It's going to be quite a unique operation when it's done."

The garage's bay doors will be framed in and new doors and windows will replace them.

The recreation building off outer State Street will be brought up to code with a new bathroom layout that is accessible to the handicapped. The decades-old building will be updated with a new roof, new cabinetry in the kitchen and a new entry.

An estimated cost of $900,000 for both projects was included in the village's 2009 budget, but Jordstat's bid was for $499,061 — less than what the recreation facility renovation alone was estimated to cost.

Mr. Heath said the bid came in so low because the projects were scaled down. The sprinkler system in the courtroom was eliminated, along with some sinks in the recreation building's bathrooms, according to Mr. McIlroy.