Shared Public Works Facility (2010 LGAA)

Village of Watkins Glen (Winner)
County: Schuyler County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (607) 535-2763

In an effort to put property with 400+ feet of lake frontage on the tax rolls, the Village of Watkins Glen needed to relocate two of its departments, at a cost of approximately $2 million. It was learned that Schuyler County was also looking to relocate some of their departments, and that the County had space available and was willing to own the building and lease a portion to the Village.

As a result, the Village no longer needed $2 million to be able to relocate their departments. Instead, the two communities began the construction of a building that would house the Village Electric and Street Departments along with the County Highway Department. The cost to both municipalities was greatly reduced by sharing the building, and several other offices from each municipality were able to relocate to this new facility as well. Having similar departments housed together made sharing equipment and personnel a reality, as well as allowing for everyone to operate much more efficiently. The lakefront property that previously housed the Village Departments was sold to a developer and has now been added to tax rolls. Once the developer completes his project, luxury apartments and a restaurant will be developed, which will increase the assessed value of this property, as well as help bring in additional sales tax dollars and jobs.

In these fiscally difficult times, municipalities needing additional space and/or equipment will find, like the Village of Watkins Glen, that it can be much more cost effective to share or combine with a neighbor in order to achieve what is needed. Partnering with Schuyler County to place the County Highway Department and the Village Street Department under one roof in the new Shared Public Works Facility is beneficial to everyone. The departments are able to assist each other when needed, share expensive equipment, buy supplies in larger quantities to cut costs and coordinate and communicate with ease. All departments and administrators are finding that they are able to be more efficient now that they are sharing the same building. Previously, some of the departments were located in the neighboring Village, three miles beyond the Village of Watkins Glen. The lakefront property that the Village was able to sell has resulted in an increase to the tax rolls and will eventually bring in additional jobs, upscale living choices and sales tax dollars.

All Village Departments were able to provide their assistance during construction, thus reducing construction costs and lowering rental costs to the Village. The combining of these Village and County Departments under one roof is the first shared services/inter municipal cooperation effort of this size in Schuyler County. The full impact of the benefits will be realized in the years to come