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Tompkins County Legislature approves purchase of 31 Dutch Mill Road for temporary offices, excludes Board of Elections
Summary
After hours of debate the Tompkins County Legislature voted 9–5 to authorize acquisition of 31 Dutch Mill Road as temporary "swing" space during the center-of-government project, adopting an amendment that removes the Board of Elections from departments to be relocated and preserves the BOE’s primary site in downtown Ithaca.
The Tompkins County Legislature voted to authorize purchase of 31 Dutch Mill Road to serve as temporary county office space while the county’s center-of-government project proceeds. The amended motion — which explicitly states that "the Tompkins County Board of Elections will not be 1 of the county departments considered for relocation to 31 Dutch Mill Road" — carried 9–5 after extended debate about access, timing, and costs.
Supporters framed the purchase as time-sensitive and fiscal: County administration said an accepted offer requires legislative authorization to avoid losing the property to another buyer. County Administrator Corsa Akomphi told legislators, "We do have a purchase agreement in place... If the resolution doesn't pass today, potentially we are going to lose it." Opponents said the public had not been given enough detail about which departments would move and warned the site is distant from transit and central services.
Amendments adopted from the red folder narrowed the proposal and added legislative oversight of department placement. The amendment passed 12–2 on a roll call prior to the main motion. The final roll call on the amended main motion recorded nine votes in favor (Randy Brown, Amanda Champion, Deborah Dawson, Anne Corman, Mike Lane, Greg Mezey, Dan Nolan, Lee Shirtliff, Dan Klein) and five opposed (Shauna Black, Travis Brooks, Rich John, Veronica Pillar, Mike Sigler).
Legislators pressed for prompt public notice about which departments would move and for data on how residents access county services. Several members asked that administration publish department placement recommendations at least one week before the next vote; County Administrator Akomphi said the administration intends to present more detailed placement information to the legislature in the coming week.
What happens next: the purchase authorization is approved as amended; administration will return with a recommended placement plan and the legislature will take a separate vote to finalize which departments occupy the Dutch Mill Road property.
