Study recommends new facility in Clintonville
By Bert Lehman
The Clintonville Public Works Department needs to move because of a lack of space and a deteriorating garage, a facilities study concluded.
The public works garage scored “significantly” higher than the minimum score that recommends replacement of a facility, according to the study conducted by Barrientos Design & Consulting of Milwaukee.
“The building not only would require a significant investment, likely 50 percent or greater of the insured value, but also if repaired, would not meet the space needs for the department,” the study states. “Current site and building operations are limited due to a garage that is too small, repair facilities that lack the required clearances and functional spaces that are undersized that is causing overcrowding and dangerous conditions within the facility.”
The study recommends a new public works garage be 34,125 square feet, allowing for storage of vehicles of all sizes with easy access.
A larger facility should also include space for administrative offices, locker rooms and the repair garage to meet modern standards.
Currently the building’s main entrance opens into the office of the director of public works. This is an unusual setup because it exposes the office to exterior elements and the public. It also allows for frequent heat loss.
The facilities study states vehicles are parked up to four deep in the bays on the east side of the garage. Parking the vehicles requires multiple people and extra time to access vehicles that are parked in.
There are seven bays on the west side of the building, with the tallest clearance 16.5 feet.
Although there is a vehicle lift, larger vehicles cannot be lifted all the way because they would hit the building structure.
“Typically, one person spots from the mezzanine while the other technician raises the vehicle as to avoid hitting the trusses while getting the vehicles as high in the air as possible,” the study states. “Even with the vehicle raised as high as possible it is typical for mechanics/technicians to be doing work under the vehicles on their knees, in a hunched or awkward position, or lying on their back.”
According to the study, a typical repair garage for heavy equipment would have a clearance of 23 feet.
The study also discusses workers’ safety in the event of a fire.
Although exit signs are present throughout the building, some exit doors are not operational.
It is also difficult to see the exit signs because of the overcrowding inside the garage, and there is not exit lighting.
The study also addresses concerns about the possibility of asbestos being present in some of the cracking tiles.
Cracking masonry piers, sinking concrete aprons in front of the overhead doors, spalling concrete, and leaks in the roof were also mentioned as items that need to be repaired.
Because overhead doors are not wide enough for vehicles with plows on them, the vehicles cannot be stored inside unless the plows are removed.
“Plows have to be put on and removed/stored in the yard during and after snow events,” the study states. “This is a time-consuming process that takes even longer during inclement weather events.”
There also isn’t enough room in the yard area to park personal vehicles.
The current public works garage is housed on approximately 1 acre.
The study stated a facility of this type should be placed on 3 to 5 acres.
The estimated cost to fix the garage’s “critical” items is $247,100.
Problem areas that should be fixed in the next year or two amount to approximately $400,000, while those that can wait five to 10 years amount to an estimated $268,600.
“Investing in this building by repairing all of the deferred maintenance items does not solve the major issues that the department faces in this facility,” the study states. “With no room to expand the building on site we believe that the only feasible solution is to either build new or find another facility that could better accommodate this department. Exploring the possibility of a shared Fire and DPW facility could potentially work if a site could be found that would work for both departments.”
The study by Barrientos Design & Consulting has also recommended a new fire station that is triple the size of the current one.