The Honorable Andrew J. Young Sr. (seated), backrow from left-Town of Batavia Deputy Supervisor Dan Underhill, Court Clerks-Caitlyn McKenzie, Rhiannon Hawley, Laurie Button, and Town of Batavia Supervisor Greg Post.
By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
Batavia Town Supervisor Gregory Post sees the town’s move to a new court facility to 4120 West Main St. Rd. as a case of striking while the iron is hot.
Town Justices Andrew Young and Lisa Funke have been holding court – sometimes handling 100 cases or more per month – at the renovated former funeral home since the beginning of the new year. Previously, town court proceedings took place at its town hall at 3833 West Main St. Rd.
“Opportunities like this come along and if you’re not prepared with capital to take advantage of it, the community loses,” said Post, who reported that the initial cost of purchasing the building and preparing it for renovation was funded with federal money.
Post conducted a tour of the courthouse for Video News Service on Thursday afternoon.
He said he sent a letter to the federal entity that sent out the COVID relief funds, thanking them “for the opportunity to have the cash to purchase an empty building and convert this to a court facility that the town desperately needed.”
“I actually believe this will save a couple million dollars for the taxpayers opposed to our original plan that was ready to bid before COVID. So, it got us into a facility sooner and for a lot less money – and we’re very pleased so far with the results.”
Steve Tanner, project manager and design team leader for the town, said that Thompson Builds of Churchville was the general contractor with sub-contractor support from Rochester-based companies Erie Electric, EMCOR Services Betlem and Ferrauilo Plumbing & Heating.
Work started in February 2025 and, except for a few “punch list” items, was finished in December of last year.
“A couple things we’re holding over until spring,” Tanner said. “We’re going to be sealing and striping the parking lot and there was some exterior signage that had a long lead time that is coming in.”
The new courthouse features enhanced security throughout, including three consultation rooms, two holding rooms, separate entrance for law enforcement and a spacious courtroom that seats around 50 people.
Post said the building can be used for other town meetings and functions, if needed.
Tanner said the project cost was $2,363,000 when including furnishings, architectural engineering fees, insurance and legal fees. He said the town issued a bond anticipation note (a short-term financing tool used by governments and corporations to kick-start projects) for $2.5 million for construction “so we came in under what the project budget was.”
Young said the move was both “necessary and awesome.”
“I think from the biggest perspective is security,” he said. “Everybody who is here is supposed to be here as opposed to the mixture of different types of people at the town hall. From the inmates coming in to the people coming in through the metal detectors, it has just been awesome from a security perspective. And it’s very nice as well.”
Young said that town board “identified that (security) as an issue and worked to make this happen, which is a continuation of the great support that they give to us.”
“We’ll have around 100 cases a month,” he said. “That’s a lot of people coming through here; a lot of attorneys. And now it is set up so much better.”
Young and Funke are supported by three court clerks — Laurie Button, Caitlyn McKenzie and Rhiannon Hawley.
Post said the town plans to have a grand opening for the facility this spring.
Pictured from left-Caitlyn McKenzie, Laurie Button, Rhiannon Hawley, Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Underhill and Town Supervisor Greg Post.