ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Two Tompkins County departments will temporarily relocate during the construction of the Center of Government.
At the August 19 Legislature meeting, lawmakers considered a resolution to move the Assessment Department and the Office for the Aging (COFA) to the recently acquired space at 31 Dutchmill Road in Lansing.
Originally, the Board of Elections was proposed to move with the Assessment Department, but the county scrapped those plans after significant public feedback.
County Administrator Korsah Akumfi says the Assessment Department believes the impact will be minimal based on data collected from visitors.
The Office for the Aging is also on board and believes they can pivot how they deliver services, much like they did during the COVID 19 pandemic. Additionally, a fair amount of their clientele drives, or has access to transportation services.
The resolution passed 13-1 with Legislator Shawna Black in opposition. Black said front-facing departments need to be highly accessible to the people they serve.
Discussions about potentially adding the building to TCAT’s stop schedule are likely in the future.
Legislator Lee Shurtleff took the opportunity to clarify the $1.2 million dollar purchase of the Dutchmill Road property for the public, reiterating that it’s cheaper to buy the building rather than lease space in Ithaca.
As, a result of the planned move and construction work, the Assessment Department will be temporarily less accessible.
In-Person office hours have been reduced to 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. However, officials say staff is still available for inquiries by phone and email from 8 a.m. to 430 p.m., Monday through Friday.
