Niles Town Supervisor Al Dougherty figured cleanup day would be a good time to convince residents the town highway garage needs scrapping.

The town board may consider replacing the aging structure soon. An open house is slated to coincide with cleanup day on July 21.

Anyone dropping off bulky trash at the cleanup behind the highway garage on New Hope Road can get a look at the building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A public vote on the project may end up on the ballot in November.

“Originally it was a hay barn,” Dougherty said. “That's how old it is.”

“Nobody remembers when it was built,” he said.

Cramming modern vehicles in the barn has made space a premium. Some of the town's newer equipment is left to the mercy of Mother Nature outside.

Highway workers battle similar elements indoors where icicles frequently form due to lack of insulation.

“We think we can build a new one without using taxpayer money or taking out a bond,” Dougherty said.

If the town moves forward on a project and the public approved it, the board could tap a capital fund that has been growing for almost 20 years. About $600,000 remained in the account after a portion was invested in Niles Town Hall, which was completed last year.

Dougherty estimates a town barn would cost in the neighborhood of $750,000, though the proposal is in the preliminary phases.

Saturday, July 21, will be a busy one for the civic-minded in town. In addition to the cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the town's comprehensive plan committee of volunteers will meet at town hall from 9 to 11 a.m.

The comprehensive plan process began in March and when complete will provide guidelines for future development in town.

Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net