OXFORD – Despite funding setbacks and higher than anticipated contractor bids, the Village of Oxford is plugging away on planned renovations to its 1970s era firehouse.

The $2.8 million project has been under the scope of village officials for nearly half a decade. In 2021, voters approved allocating $430,000 from the village’s capital reserves with a $2.37 million bond to fund the entire proposal.

The whole undertaking consists of two separate projects.

First, the village must address erosion on the river bank that borders the firehouse where the Chenango River runs. The bank has seen significant wear over the last twenty years, prompting village officials to analyze ways to protect the firehouse. Officials say it's just a matter of time before the river poses a threat too costly to handle.

Second, the firehouse itself will be renewed and revamped. Plans include an addition where the village recently removed an adjoining structure that had been deemed unsafe by county codes. The new space would provide the firehouse with roughly 3,000 additional square feet.

“We have enough room to park everything now, but unfortunately you can’t get around. And for the safety of our firefighters, we can’t have them moving equipment and themselves. It’s just not good for safety reasons,” said Oxford Mayor Terry Stark.

Village officials say they’re still hoping for state and federal grants to foot costs of the project; but with no success yet, they’re proceeding with the original funding plan.

“It’s still a viable project,” Stark said. “We will continue to move forward under the original cost structure because that’s what was authorized, but we’re having a difficult time finding contractors to bid the project at a reasonable price to us.”

The village has put out bids for the project on two occasions, once in the summer of 2022 and another in the spring of 2023. In each case, the village received bids roughly $1 million higher than budgeted, forcing the village to re-examine its options.

“We ultimately rejected those bids,” said Stark. “We’re carrying forward with the river bank project because that has to be done before anything else.”

As for future grants, Stark said some of it’s a waiting game. The village has already been turned down for a grant that would help offset renovation costs. However, another pending federal grant would help stabilize the river bank. Village officials hope to hear results on that grant soon.

In the meantime, Stark said some project components need to move forward, with or without grant funding. The village is presently piecing together a bid package for roof replacement on the firehouse. Bids will go out in August in hopes of having work completed before winter.

“We’re in the process with our engineers to look at some of these projects separately and not part of a total major project,” Stark added. “We have to address some of the issues and we can’t continue to wait for potential funding from awards.”

If state and federal grants don’t materialize, the village will continue funding all aspects of the project on its own, meaning a possible 3 to 4 percent future tax increase for residents.

“We’re still moving forward,” Stark said, “but we have to adjust as things change.”