LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Lewis County and Jefferson-Lewis BOCES have reached a land swap agreement that will relocate the county’s public health department into the Boak Center, a BOCES-owned building in the center of Lowville.
The deal will move Lewis County Public Health out of the basement of Lewis County General Hospital and into the Boak Center.
Lewis County Manager Tim Hunt said the move benefits both the county and the hospital.
“It’ll provide more parking for our employees, and it’ll free up space for the hospital,” Hunt said. “It’s going to be an advantage for our hospital and our department of health.”
In exchange for the Boak Center and just over $1 million, BOCES will receive full control of the Lewis County Jefferson Community College Education Center through a long-term lease. BOCES currently holds some classes at the facility but has sought to expand its presence there.
Hunt said the arrangement addresses student demand.
“There are students on waiting lists,” Hunt said. “Them being able to expand is a huge benefit.”
Nathan Lehman, information coordinator for Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, said the agreement opens the door for broader programming.
“This agreement with Lewis County will allow us to expand further in that building, expand program opportunities, shorten wait lists for students in those programs,” Lehman said. “We’ll be able to accommodate more students.”
The exchange is slated for June. BOCES is targeting the next school year to begin offering new classes at the Lewis County Education Center.
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