To the editor:

Probably the biggest question regarding the proposed Saranac Lake Emergency Services facility at 33 Petrova is about the size, and hence the cost of the project. The proposed facility is designed to meet the needs of the community for the next 20 years. Who determined the need 20 years from now, and how did they do it? What assumptions were made? School enrollment has dropped steadily for many years, and the overall population is declining. And if the 20-year projected need is truly greater than today’s, could the project be built to meet the needs of today, with the ability to expand if needed in the future?

I also don’t understand why there are 14 bedrooms and 3 kitchens in the recently revealed design. I assume that the paid drivers spend off-duty time at home, and volunteers respond to calls from home, particularly at night. And if one or two paid personnel are on duty at the station at night, it seems like there would be constructive things for them to do, besides sleeping and cooking.

Another concern is the degree to which Wendel has designed the project, with little input or oversight from the community. Wendel may be professionals and experts in the emergency services field, but it is also a private business. I have worked for several private companies, and every one of them was first and foremost interested in making money. There was constant pressure to reduce costs, increase production and maximize profit. I have no reason to doubt the good intentions of Wendel’s engineers and managers, but the fact is that the bigger the project, the more money Wendel makes. And the engineers and managers are employed to make money for Wendel, not to look out for the best interests of the Saranac Lake community.

These concerns of mine could have been avoided if there was more transparency as the project progressed. And even more important, the lack of transparency is creating unhealthy skepticism and distrust between the community and the Village Board, which will affect matters beyond this one project.

John Monroe

Saranac Lake