Facility Addition and Remodel Benefits Grant County Highway Department

The Grant County Highway Department building was originally constructed in 1938. To say a lot has changed since then is an understatement! As you can imagine equipment, technology, personnel needs, almost everything has advanced by leaps and bounds.

When Tracey Von Bargen started as Grant County Engineer 10 years ago, the county was struggling with operations out of the antiquated building. They couldn’t fit all of their equipment into the outdated garage, the bay used for repairs wasn’t large enough to accommodate the equipment being repaired, they had no place to wash machinery, and the cold, drafty office, added in 1973, didn’t have a meeting room large enough to hold staff meetings.

To sufficiently serve the residents of Grant County, Tracey knew changes needed to be made. He also knew money was tight and improvements would need to be made efficiently. A new addition was in order with three primary goals:

1. More garage space.
2. A mechanic area large enough to accommodate equipment of all sizes and with enough light to repair equipment properly and safely.
3. A new wash bay to ensure clean, properly maintained equipment.

Tracey enlisted Widseth to help achieve these goals and resolve ongoing issues. Tracey knew Widseth’s history and expertise would help him plan and design a maintenance facility that would fulfill Grant County’s modern-day needs.

Tracey, county staff, and the Widseth team worked together to find budget-friendly solutions to provide a safe, hospitable working environment for employees so that they, in turn, could provide top-notch services to the residents and businesses of Grant County.

The county was able to keep the original building by repurposing areas and integrating the new addition with it. Office improvements included reconfiguring spaces and designing a more efficient workflow. New meeting rooms accommodate staff meetings and training. A new vestibule prevents cold air from directly entering the office area and provides a waiting space for visitors. All areas have been thoughtfully designed to provide the most efficient use of space and a logical workflow.

The addition fulfills Tracey’s goals and provides a safe, efficient maintenance facility for employees to carry out their work.

1. The county garage houses at least three plows. This helps keep equipment out of the elements and prolongs its life.
2. The mechanic area accommodates the largest equipment inside with proper lighting. Equipment can be repaired and maintained in a safe, climate-controlled environment.
3. A wash bay is connected to the garage allowing for frequent and efficient cleaning of equipment. When equipment is properly cleaned rust is less of an issue and mechanics can make repairs. This also prolongs equipment life and has increased trade-in value of machines.

If you have a maintenance facility that needs rejuvenating, or maybe you just need a fresh set of eyes to look at how it could operate more efficiently, give us a call. Let us put our experience to work for you!