Oswego trustees have some preliminary preferences on how to address growing space needs in the Public Works Department.
The Itasca-based Williams Architects recently presented results of a space needs assessment and feasibility study for the department based on the “tremendous growth” of Oswego in recent years.
The Village Board earlier this year authorized the hiring of Williams Architects to identify options for the department including possible expansion of the existing Public Works facility at 100 Theodore Drive, which was built in 2002.
The village has also considered using a building at 7 Stonehill Road off of Wolfs Crossing Road as a potential site for the department.
The results of the study consider existing space and future space needs through 2050, village officials said.
“There are two different main directions the village can go with. One is to look at how we meet these needs on the existing site and the other direction is looking at another site to be determined,” Williams Architects Managing Principal Andrew Dogan said.
The village’s last master plan for expansion was done 15 years ago.
Some of the key concerns for the Public Works Department are with having equipment stored outdoors year-round and that office space, lockers and restrooms at the current site are inadequate to serve existing and future staff, village officials said.
The projected cost to maintain the existing facility with some modifications is an estimated $17 million to $18.7 million. This was called Option 1.
However, trustees appeared more supportive of two other options. Option 2 would maintain a portion of the existing facility with some modifications at an estimated $20.7 million to $22.4 million. Others had interest in Option 3, which would involve more construction on the existing site at an estimated cost of $37 million to $40.2 million.
Yet another variant, called Option 4, which garnered the least feedback, would involve a full construction project on a new site at an estimated cost of $40.6 million to $44 million.
“The reason we show several options is not only to demonstrate what the village can do with different budget points but also to show you that this is something that the village can potentially phase in over time,” Dogan said.
The existing site maintains a central location in an industrial area. However, a new site would provide more future expansion possibilities, he told trustees.
Two of the options discussed provide additional expansion at the existing site as the population increases, the architect said.
“The reality is none of us can perfectly project the population in 25 years. We want to make sure that whatever is suggested has the ability to grow,” Dogan said.
The village is looking at various funding sources to finance the project, including using cash reserves, water/sewer capital funds, grant money and bonds.
The village could write a check for Option 1 or come up with the funds for Option 2 without issuing bonds, Village Administrator Dan Di Santo told trustees.
However, Option 3 would require additional sources of funds.
“We don’t have the money sitting around,” Di Santo said.
The administrator suggested reviewing water rates next summer when bids come in for the future Lake Michigan water project.
“We would be able to add on to the bonding for the Lake Michigan project,” Di Santo said of Option 3. “I don’t feel we are at a point where we can say yes, the village can do that. You are going to want to see what the impact on water rates will be.”
The village will be prepared to review the impact on water rates next summer, he said.
Village President Ryan Kauffman said he supported Option 3.
“If we are going to do it, we should do it well,” he said.
Trustee Karen Novy favored Option 2.
“I don’t want to put more financial burden on residents,” Novy said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
