In the last Carroll City Council meeting, there was a lengthy discussion about moving forward with plans and a needs assessment for a new street maintenance facility on east 3rd Street in Carroll. The recommendation to move forward was tabled to afford time for council members to hold a work session on the proposed project. Director of Public Works, Randy Krauel explained that lack of space and inefficiencies have brought about the need for change. One of the big drivers of a new plan, he said, is the mechanic’s bay. Tom Ward with the street department agreed.
The maintenance and storage facility was originally built in 1969 after a fire at the site. The flooring still shows the signs of patching and wear from the damage done during that fire. The era of construction is immediately evident when seeing the size of the space compared to the size of current equipment. An addition was made in 1972, but it too is no longer to scale in terms of size or efficiencies. Krauel explained, however, that the new plan is meant to address more than just size issues.
The current building is too small to accommodate all that is needed, so equipment and materials are split between several sites. Currently, aggregate materials are stored to the east of Grant Road and it takes two men, a loader and a truck to travel to that site to bring materials needed back to the maintenance shed. The city has purchased two lots adjacent to the 3rd street building to develop a site plan that would reduce those types of inefficiencies as well.
The site plan would also provide storage space for expensive equipment currently stored outside; which is creating added expense and repairs because of damage done by the elements. There will be more room for employee training and space to allow for nights spent at the building when storms are imminent. Krauel added the current building limits their capacity to purchase modern equipment that allows the department to be more efficient while getting more work done. Mayor Adam Schweers said this project has been a part of the capital improvement plan for years, and there is money budgeted in this fiscal year to move forward with the planning and needs assessment.
The council came to this agreement during their annual planning session. They estimated the workshop and discussion would likely delay moving forward with this project by only a few weeks.
