JOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Department of Solid Waste staff is midway through construction of a mezzanine at the county Recycling Facility on Mud Road.
Department Director Jeffrey Bouchard last week briefed the Board of Supervisors' Environmental Resources Committee on the project.
He said county workers started construction in February on a mezzanine at the recycling facility. He said the mezzanine is 56 feet long by 12.5 feet wide.
"The staff deserves a lot of credit," Bouchard said. "They do a great job."
Bouchard said Thursday work continues on the project and may be conclude in a couple weeks.
"We're actually putting up the upper floor," he said. "I still have to do the drop ceilings and the finished floor."
Bouchard said more storage space will be available from the lower part of the mezzanine to stairs leading up to an upper part of a mezzanine with 672 square feet of extra space.
"I'm hoping to have it done by the end of the month," he said.
He said the mezzanine is being built because more space is needed at the recycling building as part of an addition put on.
Bouchard said his department estimated it would have cost the county about $50,000 to hire a private contractor to build the mezzanine. He said the materials, including high-efficiency lighting, is costing the county about $10,000. He said the recycling staff works "sporadically" on the project a couple hours at a time during regular shifts, so no overtime is needed.
In other departmental operations, Bouchard said new metal siding is due to be installed on the old leachate pump station at the landfill.
He said Operations Manager Joel Wilson attended annual asbestos recertification Feb. 2.
Bouchard said the Fulton County Demolition Team plans several building demolitions in March, mostly in Gloversville.
He reported silt in the department's storm water pond was removed and erosion measures taken.
He also reported the recycling facility's sprinkler system was tested, and heat cables on leachate lines going to storage tanks were repaired.
Bouchard said cleanup program memos will be sent shortly, notifying municipalities of spring or fall choices.
Wilson also visited Warren County to look at a state contract loader.
The committee authorized the closeout of the department's leachate-sewer line project. The $4.3 million capital project was constructed from 2008-09.
"It finished up last year," he said. "This [closeout] is bookkeeping."
Supervisors also approved advertising for bids for a recycling truck estimated to cost $85,000.
The oldest recycling truck from 2000 will be offered for trade-in.
The bid is expected to be awarded in April.
"I feel that going out to bid is going to be the best for us, plus there's the trade-in value," Bouchard said.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
