Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot. This week: Cayuga County legislator David Axton
This week's question: The idea of moving the county office building out of downtown was considered and rejected once in the past. Why has that possibility resurfaced?
Increasing energy costs, major deficiencies in our buildings, and the need to make county government smaller and more efficient, has led us as a legislature to revisit the idea of a county government campus. We recently received the results of a study of all of our buildings and quite frankly, we have some serious structural and code deficiencies that will cost the taxpayers between $30 and $35 million to repair.
It is my opinion that we can save the taxpayers $10 to $15 million dollars by building a new facility that would bring virtually all of our departments and services under one roof. By building a “green” energy efficient and sustainable building, we can dramatically decrease the size of government and increase our level of efficiency and service to the community.
Consolidation is a term that seems to be popping up all over the media lately. With ever-increasing energy and operational costs, all levels of government will need to look at how they do business and look for ways to be more efficient and cost conscious. A campus facility would allow departments and services that have been housed in separate buildings throughout the county, to work together under one roof. This will allow the county to share personnel, equipment, vehicles, and information much more efficiently and cost effectively.
The location of the new facility has been a topic of debate. I have been a strong proponent of building this facility adjacent to the Public Safety Building for many reasons, mainly due to the fact we would be able to use sustainable energy generated by the digester project that is being constructed at the site.
However, I would support fully any location recommended by a future feasibility study.
We find ourselves with an exciting opportunity to save millions of dollars by building a new facility, while at the same time insuring lower energy and operational costs for decades to come. Change can sometimes seem painful, but we need to keep an open mind and remember the old adage, “no pain no gain.”
Dave Axton
Cayuga County Legislator District 3
Port Byron, NY
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or
e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
Increasing energy costs, major deficiencies in our buildings, and the need to make county government smaller and more efficient, has led us as a legislature to revisit the idea of a county government campus. We recently received the results of a study of all of our buildings and quite frankly, we have some serious structural and code deficiencies that will cost the taxpayers between $30 and $35 million to repair.
It is my opinion that we can save the taxpayers $10 to $15 million dollars by building a new facility that would bring virtually all of our departments and services under one roof. By building a “green” energy efficient and sustainable building, we can dramatically decrease the size of government and increase our level of efficiency and service to the community.
Consolidation is a term that seems to be popping up all over the media lately. With ever-increasing energy and operational costs, all levels of government will need to look at how they do business and look for ways to be more efficient and cost conscious. A campus facility would allow departments and services that have been housed in separate buildings throughout the county, to work together under one roof. This will allow the county to share personnel, equipment, vehicles, and information much more efficiently and cost effectively.
The location of the new facility has been a topic of debate. I have been a strong proponent of building this facility adjacent to the Public Safety Building for many reasons, mainly due to the fact we would be able to use sustainable energy generated by the digester project that is being constructed at the site.
However, I would support fully any location recommended by a future feasibility study.
We find ourselves with an exciting opportunity to save millions of dollars by building a new facility, while at the same time insuring lower energy and operational costs for decades to come. Change can sometimes seem painful, but we need to keep an open mind and remember the old adage, “no pain no gain.”
Dave Axton
Cayuga County Legislator District 3
Port Byron, NY
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or
e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
