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Buildings and grounds staff report maintenance, heating and backup‑center work carried into 2026 budget
Summary
County buildings and grounds staff outlined ongoing maintenance costs and projects, said several projects and funds will carry from 2025 into 2026, and discussed utility-cost pressure and contracted services.
Kevin, a county buildings and grounds staff member, told the Cayuga County Legislature the department is maintaining daily building checks across county properties, continuing contracted cleaning services, and carrying many unfinished 2025 projects and funds into the '26 budget. "We have the heat on, so we don't freeze any pipes... we have a checklist just inside the building," he said.
Why it matters: county-owned facilities require ongoing maintenance and unplanned repairs; the department flagged rising utility costs and aging systems as budget risks that could require carryovers or additional appropriations.
Details: Kevin said the department manages multiple facilities including the courthouse, PSB, County Office Building (COB), Mental Health building and other county properties. He described recurring services (snow removal, mowing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and painting), seasonal staff use and occasional outside vendors for specialized work. He said gas and electric costs are projected to increase and cited a contractor (Cleantech) recently added for cleaning services.
Backup center and equipment: during questions about the 911 backup center, Kevin confirmed that some furniture for the backup center is included in the capital funding previously approved by the legislature (the 1.2 million resolution referenced earlier in the meeting) and that laptops and workstations purchased for use in the backup center have been acquired but not yet fully outfitted by the vendor.
Carryover and project timing: Kevin said most unfinished 2025 projects will be carried into the 2026 budget rather than re-requested. He listed planned projects including HVAC upgrades, new boilers and sidewalk/stair repairs, and said some projects (parking-lot paving, an overhang removal) remain on hold because of additional issues such as suspected asbestos.
Outlook: staff said they will continue daily facility checks, work with vendors for major repairs, and coordinate with other departments to prioritize carryover projects into the next fiscal year.
