‘It’s amazing what a difference 11 months can make,? said Brent Bair, managing director of the Road Commission for Oakland County, at Monday’s dedication of the rebuilt maintenance garage in Springfield Township.
In weather which rivaled that of the fire which almost gutted the building in January, county and local officials enjoyed an open house at the refurbished facility at Dixie Highway and Rattalee Lake roads.
Total cost for the new construction, and new and replaced equipment, is estimated between $5 million and $6 million, according to Public Information Officer Craig Bryson, for the building erected in the 1960s.
The commission lost 17 pieces of equipment and use of the building. Insurance covered the replacement cost of vehicles and actual damage to the building. Because of depreciation on existing vehicles, and a decision to expand the garage and buy additional equipment, the commission expects a shortfall between $1 million and $2 million, Bryson said.
‘Right now it looks like the impact will be relatively minor, but that money will have to come from somewhere,? he said, and the commission will spend future budget meetings ironing out those details.
The expanded garage (allowing for inside parking for 12 additional vehicles) and additional equipment will mean more efficient operations, officials said.
In prepared remarks, Bair praised garage staff and firefighters for saving as much equipment as possible, and thanked those who helped the commission maintain services while the garage was rebuilt.
In days immediately following the fire, local governments and private contractors helped plow and salt roads. Members of the Clarkston Department of Public Works were on hand for the dedication, and said their assistance was a natural response, recognizing help they receive from other agencies when needed.
The road commission also received a $400,000 joint grant from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to help continue this past year’s preservation overlay program.
The road commission operated from a nearby vacant manufacturing facility during the reconstruction, and Bair boasted of uninterrupted service during the past 11 months.
‘We didn’t even know there was a problem,? said Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls.