Lowville offices are moved into new digs

LOWVILLE — After more than a year of planning, village offices have moved to the town's Bostwick Street facility.

"We spent a little money, but we're going to make it back over the years in savings," said Trustee Dennis G. Bishop, a member of the village's Capital Committee.

Village workers spent much of the day Monday trucking furniture and supplies from the village municipal building on Dayan Street over to Bostwick Street.

All village offices — including the Police Department — will remain closed until Wednesday, allowing telephone and computer systems to be set up and tested.

Residents can call Lewis County dispatchers at 376-3511 for non-emergency contact with village patrolmen or public works officials.

All village telephone numbers will remain the same.

The new mailing address for village offices is 5535 Bostwick St.

The village recently constructed a 2,436-square-foot building, including an attached garage, to house the Police Department. The remaining village offices will be moved into the northeast end of the town's municipal building, which was constructed in 1994.

While trustees last year approved the use of up to $500,000 from the village's municipal building capital reserve fund to cover expenses associated with the project, it is now expected to cost less than $350,000, according to Mr. Bishop.

"I honestly don't know how we could have done any better," he said.

Project costs include a one-time "buy-in" payment of $120,000 to the town, renovation of the existing building, construction of the new one, and installation of a new telephone system for use by both the town and village.

Village and town employees did much of the renovation and construction work under the direction of local contractors Wayne Birchenough and Wayne Berrus and electrician David Norris, Mr. Bishop said. "They did a beautiful job," he said.

Mr. Bishop has projected that town and village taxpayers would see a combined annual savings of $16,000 to $20,000 in operating costs through the office consolidation.

Village officials have no definite plans for their century old building on Dayan Street but likely will try to sell it, said Mayor Mary E. Youngs.

A grand opening ceremony for the new offices will be held later this year, she said.