COLUMBUS – Columbus Supervisor George Coates resigned from public office Thursday night following his board’s decision to proceed with a building project for the town hall.

“If I stayed there, I wouldn’t feel right with the people. My conscience would bother me. It’s just when I see so many other things in the town that we need, I can’t put this as a top priority,” he said.

The project is an approximately $50,000 addition to the town hall that would provide offices for New York State 6th Judicial Court proceedings. The board applied for and was awarded a $30,000 grant last year for the project, of which $19,000 was obligated for construction.

Coates, who would have begun his 3rd term this year, said the remainder was mandated for the judge’s computer software, equipment and furniture.

The building project would include a handicapped-accessible restroom for the town hall.

Coates said the town hall needs structural improvements, including a new roof, much needed porch and window casing repairs plus two more garage bays to accommodate equipment that is currently being exposed to the weather. He said the highway department would be needing at least one new truck in the very near future.