The Chadron City Council has approved specifications for a new post-frame building for the street department and authorized staff to go to bid with the project.
City Manager Tom Menke says the proposed 60-by-84-foot building with 14-foot ceiling is needed to garage several pieces of equipment that the city must currently leave outside regardless of the weather.
Menke told the council last night that the building has been under discussion for 7 or 8 years and that money has been set aside steadily to fund it, adding that “very favorable” quotes led to the decision to ask the council to move forward now.
The project was not included in this year’s budget as a separate line item, but Menke said an amended budget wasn’t needed since the money for the project is already there – although he emphasized there was no problem if the council wanted to wait longer.
Councilman Miles Bannan strongly supported moving forward, saying Chadron should “strike while the iron is hot” and see how the bids come in – going ahead if they’re good and waiting to try again in the future if they’re not.
The rest of the council agreed and approved the specifications and authorized going to bid. Menke says the building would be similar to one built a few years ago at the water plant.