Wednesday — February 18, 2004

Hailey city shop
nears completion

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The culmination of four years of planning, the new Hailey maintenance shop in the Airport West industrial park is near completion. The $817,000 building has had some change orders, but the project has progressed smoothly, said city engineer Tom Hellen.

"It will be a nice clean environment," he said.

Drywall tapers are getting the interior walls ready to paint. Electricians are hanging the last conduit to complete the wiring for the building and the masons were busy cleaning up and removing extra materials this week.

The project was initiated by former Hailey Mayor Brad Siemer in 2001, and construction began in September 2003. The city has been saving for the project by building a fund from revenues that have exceeded annual budgets, said Hailey City Clerk Heather Dawson.

The city has built up funds since the project was first conceived by saving overrides from budget items like building permit revenues, Hellen said. "The city had to trim fat here and there."

The building is an improvement to the overcrowded single garage the city now rents, Hellen said.

"The city has a major shortage of space in their current shop," electrician Douglas Zemke said.

The new space has three drive through bays with tall garage doors that roll up. The metal truss, brick building will enable the city to speed repairs to city vehicles and small equipment. The building comes with office space for public works and maintenance staff, showers, locker rooms and a break room.

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