PERTH - The Town Board is seeking bids until Aug. 14 for an addition to the town garage.
Eight months ago, the public approved the borrowing of up to $600,000 for the project.
Town officials say the current garage on Midline Road is too small.
"It's in tough shape," said Town Supervisor Greg Fagan. "The building can hardly fit the trucks in there. It's not very efficient as far as heating goes - all valid reasons. My biggest concern is how the town is going to pay for it."
Fagan said the board won't know how much it will have to borrow until all the bids are in and a decision is made. He said he wants to make sure that however much the project ends up costing, it doesn't burden the community.
"I'm still nervous about how we're going to pay for it," he said. " That has not changed from day one. It won't change until, if, we get a decent bid and the financing is easy on the budget. Then maybe at that point, I'll become comfortable."
Councilman Walter Kowalczyk said he is happy to see the requests for bids because he campaigned for this project when he ran for his position two years ago.
"People were in favor of it then, so I'm all for it," Kowalczyk said. "We need it very badly. We don't have enough room. We've got machinery standing outdoors and rusting away. And they'll be able to work on some of their equipment because we don't have enough room in this one.
"When it comes to changing tires, they have hardly enough room when they get all the trucks in there," he said. "With the new garage, there will be plenty of room."
The board did start spending on the project Thursday. It passed a resolution to pay Rochester-based Passero & Associates $5,597 for the construction drawings and preliminary design services.