JOHNSTOWN— The Fulton County Highways and Facilities Department is recommending various capital projects in 2020, such as a pole barn addition and renovations to the historic County Courthouse.
The department was considering adding a $51,500 project for Public Defender Office renovations, but will reexamine security aspects of that project.
Superintendent of Highways and Facilities Mark Yost presented his department’s potential capital projects for next year to the Board of Supervisors’ Public Works Committee Monday at the County Office Building.
Yost had presented a $51,500 overall project for renovations to Public Defender Roger Paul’s new offices at the County Annex on East Fulton Street in Gloversville. He said about $30,000 was earmarked for upgrades such as painting and carpeting, while some would go for a security upgrade.
But the committee and county Administrative Officer Jon Stead decided that security upgrades with key card systems are not uniformly in place in county government and more research must be done into what’s needed and what’s affordable.
“We do need security,” Paul told supervisors.
But he said he didn’t care about what type of security. He said strangers having no business have been found in his building.
“Fulton Street has a lot of crime,” he said. “I just want a secure building.”
Stead noted that county buildings are usually open, public buildings. But he said if different types of security is needed, it will be looked at. But he said each department seems to currently be doing its own security.
“We have to build some kind of public access into this thing,” he said.
Other 2020 facilities capital projects recommended by Yost included a $60,000 pole barn addition at the County Services Complex I on Route 29. He said the 32-foot by 64-foot addition would be to secure items such as the sheriff’s patrol boat and an emergency trailer.
“This was at the request of our sheriff and our emergency management,” Yost said.
He said the hope is to have a separate building instead of items stored occasionally outside.
In addition, Yost said a $125,000 capital project is proposed for renovations to the historic County Courthouse.
“We met with Steve Riley, our historic architect,” Yost said. “That’s one of the most important buildings in the whole state, especially for us.”
Facilities equipment being proposed as a capital item would be a $40,000 2020 Ford F250 pickup with a plow.
A total of $1.5 million in highway capital paving projects was proposed, with about $449,500 being the county cost. Highway projects include: County Highway 116 —$445,000; County Highway 116A — $57,000; County Highway 138 — $235,000; County Highway 149 —$230,000; County Highway 143 — $170,000; County Highway 137 — $132,000; and Shell Road Bend —$40,000.
An $85,000 bridge project involving North Bush Road over Peck Creek is proposed.
Highway equipment sought includes a $71,500 wood chipper.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
