The engine of the big rig roared, as the bulldozer’s claw took a bite out of the grassy hill next to the library. It was mid-morning Tuesday when the parking lot of the Schroon Town Building resembled a life sized Tonka Truck convention.

The event was preparing the site for the new Town Building expansion, which will feature a new courthouse, expanded library and modern offices for town employees.

"We are underway. It was just the prep work, some excavation and taking out a tree," Town Supervisor Mike Marnell told Schroon Laker.com today.

Four vendors have been chosen for the job, a general contractor, a masonry company, a plumber and heating and ventilation specialists. Finding vendors was not an easy process.

‘There is a lot of work going on in Albany. People are busy.”

Mike says he expects to meet with the builders as early as next Monday, to discuss the foundation work.

Mike said he sees no barriers to interfere with the project, and forecasts that the main structure will be completed in December with the new digs ready for an opening day around Memorial Day Weekend.

As for any downtime to the library or town business, Mike says it will be minimal. “A few days at most. We will break through the wall to the library hopeful on a weekend.”

Mike says tax payers will see a slight increase in their taxes in the 2017 tax year.”

He says the waiting is finally over. “Five years, 9 months and 26 days… it got to the point where I thought this will never be real. I’d almost given up.”

What do you think of the new expansion? Tell us in comments.