Ausable Town Hall now located in ACK Civic Center

KEESEVILLE | It's official. The Town of Ausable is now fully operational at its new home — the Ausable-Chesterfield-Keeseville Civic Center (ACK Civic Center) on Main Street. While the Town Court remains at its current location on Liberty Street, the town clerk's office, supervisor's office, and town hall moved from their original location on Ausable Street to the first floor of the former high school. All residents are invited to stop by not only to update records, pay taxes, request permits, or get questions answered about various town services, but to see all the upgrades that have taken place throughout the building. "This relocation represents more than just a change of address; it symbolizes our town's forward momentum and dedication to efficient, community-focused government," said Town of Ausable Supervisor Tim Bresett. "We believe the new Civic Center location will make it easier for residents across Ausable to access the services you depend on while preserving the small-town values that make our community special." Renovations to the 55,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar building began about five years ago with a roof replacement. A brand-new boiler system was installed downstairs, and earlier this month, the downstairs ADA-compliant bathrooms were completed. Several of the rooms were updated to accommodate current tenants, including the JCEO (Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Inc.), Dynamix Fitness & Wellness, Adirondack Jiu-Jitsu, North Country Pizza, Development Authority of the North Country, Shasta Owens Photography, Wheat Paste Radio (WAVG 100.5 FM), Pawlowski Land Surveying, and Amy Larmon, LCSW, PLLC. And then there's the gymnasium. So far, some work has been done on the gym. New padding was installed on the end walls; the existing bleachers were removed; and the floor was replaced. A lift was installed to enable those with mobility issues to access the gym, and curtains were lined along the back of the existing stage, where they'll remain up until the renovations are complete. About $40,000 was spent on the new gym floor alone, which is lined with black lines for basketball, blue lines for volleyball, and green lines for pickleball. A little over $15,000 was saved by volunteers tearing up the existing flooring themselves, and a generous donation from the Moore Foundation also contributed to this progress. Earlier this year, Friends of the ACK Civic Center launched a Vertical Raise campaign to raise $40,000 to scrape the damaged surfaces, replaster the walls and ceiling, and repaint the entire gym. The group also recently hosted a craft fair in hopes of raising additional funds for future renovations. According to the Vertical Raise website, a little over $1,300 was raised. Besides the gym, other future renovations include updating the windows and converting the former upstairs library into a designated community space. To do so, however, an elevator or lift must be installed to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. "The building is such an asset to the community," said Bruce Garcia, a member of Friends of the ACK Civic Center, in a previous interview. "And if we continue to maintain it, it will be here for another 100 years or so." The ACK Civic Center was built in 1936 during the Great Depression to serve K-12 students in the Keeseville area until 1972, when AuSable Valley School opened. Afterward, the Village of Keeseville acquired the building and maintained its offices, along with other businesses, until its dissolution in 2014. Afterward, the Town of Ausable acquired the property and began developing a plan to revitalize the building into a community center with little to no burden on taxpayers. And now, the town can continue to do so while enjoying its brand-new home. "This relocation represents more than just a change of address; it symbolizes our town's forward momentum and dedication to efficient, community-focused government," Bresett said. "We believe the new [...] location will make it easier for residents across Ausable to access the services they depend on while preserving the small-town values that make our community special." For more information or updates, visit townofausableny.gov.

Signup for our newsletter

Ausable Town Hall now located in ACK Civic Center

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS