The city’s Board of Public Works learned how much it would cost to build a new public works facility versus a consolidated facility with Waupaca County.
Roger Thompson, president of Effective Management Decisions of Appleton, presented the public works and Waupaca County Highway Department joint feasibility study to the board during its Aug. 4 meeting.
He made the same presentation to a county committee earlier this summer.
The estimated building footprint for a city public works facility would be 37,350 square feet at cost of about $5.18 million, he said.
The County Highway Department would need about 147,161 square feet for a new building at a cost of about $15.47 million, Thompson said.
He told the Board of Public Works that 175,145 square feet would be needed for a joint facility, with the estimated cost at $17.5 million.
John Edlebeck, Waupaca’s director of public works, said the cost estimates do not include such costs as land acquisition, architecture and furniture.
He said there could be substantial savings on an annual basis if the city’s Public Works Department and the county’s Highway Department were to consolidate.
Alderman Jim Boyer said, “I’m for building a joint facility but not there,” referring to the land the county owns on County Trunk A.
Thompson said he is showing them what the savings could be by consolidating.
“I think you’re doing your due diligence by looking at this,” he said.
Edlebeck said both the city and county have old facilities and would have a unique opportunity to consider a consolidated building project.
“I think we need to spend some effort on this – to decide as a board where to go next,” he said.