COLRAIN — Construction on renovations for the town highway garage could begin in April, now that special town meeting voters unanimously approved money transfers to replace part of the building with a new 2,500 square-foot addition.
The renovation is to be done with a $1.1 million Community Development Block Grant for “disaster recovery,” along with $420,000 from the town’s Chapter 90 road money from the state.
On Monday night, 24 residents unanimously approved the following money transfers: $420,000 from the town’s Stabilization Fund and $60,000 from the town’s undesignated free cash reserves.
The money will be used to tear down part of the Jacksonville Road highway garage and replace it with a new 2,500 square-foot addition.
The oldest, front portion of the building was a former Colrain school house that became used as the old town office. It will be replaced by an addition that will house a vehicle-washing bay, administrative offices and a storage mezzanine. The flood-damaged area caused by Tropical Storm Irene will be repaired and the basement will be made flood-proof, according to Town Coordinator Kevin Fox. The rest of the building will be repaired and upgraded.
“The town is not asking for any borrowing approval, and this will have no effect on the tax rate,” Fox pointed out.
Today, March 1, the Board of Selectmen is scheduled to award a contract to low-bidder, Kurtz Construction of Westfield, Fox said.