by Rachel Hunter
The Town of Gouverneur Council at its Jan. 14 meeting agreed to install a fire alarm system and Knox Box system at town barn and offices building, 1227, US Highway 11, Gouverneur.
Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. said the following: “(Town of Gouverneur Deputy Supervisor Eldon Conklin) and I met with our insurance representative two weeks ago, and one of the suggestions he stressed was a fire alarm system for our building. There’s been quite a few, well, I think four municipalities I think he said that have had total losses.”
Town of Gouverneur Highway Superintendent Ed Cardinell took the opportunity to inform Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. and the Town of Gouverneur Council who had not yet heard of the losses the Village of Theresa had suffered after its public works garage, village office went ablaze shortly before noon Tuesday. “That’s almost a brand new building,” Supervisor Spilman said.
The cause is still under investigation.
Supervisor Spilman reminded the Town of Gouverneur Council that the insurance representative suggested the move last year as well, and that the Town of Gouverneur received quotes, but never acted on it.
Supervisor Spilman said they had reached out to Alltech Integration Systems, Stat Communications, and NCC Systems Inc. who plan to give quotes to the Town of Gouverneur. “One has given us a quote already – it is coming in at about $11,200,” Supervisor Spilman said. “What we would like to do tonight is to get a motion to authorize us to purchase fire alarm system not to exceed $15,000 that way once we get the quotes in we won’t have to wait to get things going on it. Ed has been going through everything that has a battery attached to it in the shop; it is now getting a master disconnect switch put on it… I couldn’t imagine, especially since we have so many things under one roof, if we had a loss here…it would be catastrophic.”
The motion to authorize the purchase of the alarm system not to exceed $15,000 was made by Town of Gouverneur Councilman Curran Wade, and seconded by Town of Gouverneur Councilwoman Jaimee McQuade. All were in favor. The decision was unanimous,
The decision was also made during the meeting to install a Knox Box system at the building. Supervisor Spilman explained to the town board that it would allow the fire department “the opportunity to come to the building and punch a code in a box a have a code waiting for them and be able to access the building if nobody is around.”
“I think it is a good idea,” he said. (By) having a Knox Box on the building for (Chief Conklin) and the guys to get in… they don’t have to go out to the building, get a key. I know they have a key to the Community Center and at our meeting tomorrow I am going to bring up a suggestion that we purchase one of these Knox Boxes where the first responders come directly to the building to get in.”
In addition, Supervisor Spilman said the following: (Town of Gouverneur Deputy Supervisor Eldon Conklin) brought it up. At the Town Court, we never had a loss policy down there. We added $150,000 worth of value to the policy for an $160 per year. It’s pretty minimal, but just the cost it would take to recreate the files down there would astronomical.”
There was some discussion before the town board continued with the business at hand.
The next regular meeting of the Town of Gouverneur Council is to be held on Tuesday, February 11, 6 p.m. at the town offices building.