The City of Syracuse is looking at a DeWitt warehouse to protect millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded equipment that's been sitting outside during the winter.
Syracuse Common Councilors are being asked to approve a lease agreement for the storage space at the former New Venture Gear plant off Fly Road near the Thruway. City Commissioner of Assessment Matt Oja said it's the right size and price.
"We have millions of dollars of newly purchased fire, police, and DPW equipment that has been out in the elements historically for a very long time," Oja said at a Wednesday council session. "We need to keep it indoors."
Richard Devesty, the city's director of fleet operations, said seasonal equipment sits idle for months and needs to be protected.
“We have boats we use in the summer...all of our sweepers, pavers, milling machines, all of our summer equipment could be put inside for the winter," Devesty said.
The city would lease approximately 33,000 square feet for, at most, $210,000 over the next three years. Common Council President Helen Hudson has called for the city to build a fleet storage facility for 11 years. Councilor Pat Hogan said getting a space for storing the equipment has been a matter of logistics.
“If we had a price tag on how much something like that would cost, of course, we’d have to have a location and everything else," Hogan said.
Syracuse Chief Operating Officer Corey Driscoll Dunham said the plan has yet to be ruled out entirely for the future.
“That’s significant acreage to find in the city to build something," Driscoll Dunham said. "Is a couple-acre storage facility really the best and highest use of property in the city?”
Driscoll Dunham added that she’s not sure the city can manage and maintain something of that size. and a lease works best while the city explores options.
Councilors are expected to vote on the lease agreement at their Monday meeting.
