Longmeadow Department of Public Works needs a new garage and office space.
Longmeadow Department of Public Works Superintendent Michael Wrabel is seen outside the DPW garade in 2006.LONGMEADOW – The Department of Public Works is seeking a large six acre property in town where they could build a new garage and offices for the department.
“The building we are in was built in the 1930s on the site of an old dump and we have major issues with sloping floors, flooding and a host of other problems,” said Department of Public Works Director Michael Wrabel.
A facility study conducted by Tighe & Bond in 2008 reported the present building does not meet the needs of the department and adapting the existing facility would require $1.5 million for the relocation of drainage and sewer mains, the excavation and removal of an old open burn dump, and flood-proofing to raise the facility out of the 100 year flood plain.
“That money is just to get the site ready, it would not include the cost of building a new larger facility,” Wrabel said.
He said among major problems with the current site is the fact that they are landlocked by railroad tracks, Interstate 91 and wetlands.
“We really need a new location and there are not many places in town where we could go,” he said.
The current garage is in deplorable condition with rusted support beams and slanting floors. Wrabel said several garage doors are broken and the space is too small to fit most of the equipment which now remains outdoors all year.
“Like with a regular car if you are able to keep the equipment inside it adds to the life of the vehicles. We have trucks and plows going out during storms and we cant bring them back and wash them off and let them thaw. All of the salt and sand stays on the vehicles and deteriorates them,” he said.
Currently the facility does not include enough conference rooms, locker rooms or office space. The consolidated maintenance staff for the town and schools is working out of a 1,300 square foot facility.
Wrabel could not say how much the town would be willing to pay for the facility, he said it would be based on the proposals that come in as well as approval from Town Meeting.
“Unfortunately it does fall on the back of the taxpayers and with the new high school we realize it’s a lot for residents to take on,” he said.
However Wrabel said the facility is an absolute necessity. The optimal site would fit a 48,000 square foot building that will house all operational divisions of the DPW including office space. Adequate space is needed for the administrative, engineering, highway, water, sewer, and grounds and building maintenance functions of the department.
Property owners interested in submitting a proposal should contact Procurement Manager Chad Thompson at (413) 565-4136.