By Susan Monteleone
ELDRED — January 21, 2005 – The Eldred Central School District is currently looking into another proposal for a new bus garage.
The current garage is leased, and district officials say they have outgrown it. The initial idea of renting two bays at the new Highland Town Barn in Eldred was voted down last year.
The most recent concept is being proposed by the Town of Lumberland and is a win-win situation, according to Eldred Supt. Ivan Katz.
Currently, the district is occupying a 2000-square-foot building with the price per foot $14.10 and a monthly lease rate of $2,350.
The new location would be Lumberland’s old highway barn in Glen Spey, a total of 5,400 square feet.
Katz added, "The cost increases through the 2009-10 school year for the proposed site are as follows: school year 2006-07 with a cost per square foot at $7.50, percent of increase 3.57 percent, and a monthly cost of $3,262.50; 2007-08 school year with a cost per square foot of $7.50 and a percent increase of 3.45 percent and a monthly cost of $3,375; in 2008-09 the cost per square foot would be $7.75 with a percent increase of 3.33 percent and a monthly cost of $3,487.50; and then in 2009-10 with a cost per square foot of $8, with a percent increase of 3.23 percent and a monthly cost of $3,600."
Katz said that the town is willing to do many of the needed repairs, even though the barn is no longer in use by the town.
"According to Supervisor [John] LiGreci, the Town of Lumberland will do the construction necessary for the bus garage to conform to DOT specifications, and they are further willing to blacktop the parking area to insure the longer life of the buses,” Katz said. “They are also willing to extend their existing pole barn to be able to cover the district buses. The only thing that the district will have to do is purchase a bus lift at a cost of roughly $100,000, and the lift would be paid through a bond anticipation note.
"The board is in favor of the proposal for a new bus garage center, and I am also in favor of this proposal,” he continued. “It is the Taj Mahal compared to what we have now. It really is a great concept."
The board will be reviewing the proposal and reporting back to the public when complete.