Storage Facility Will Help North Strabane Parks and Recreation Department Increase Efficiency

Asked by North Strabane Township supervisors if he could scale back the scope of a storage facility for his department, Director Greg Sulc shrugged his shoulders.

"There isn't much fat on this cow," he said.

But Sulc and the construction manager said they would try.

The construction of the 60-foot by 80-foot steel-frame building, to be located behind the upper ball park in Municipal Park, was expected to cost about $300,000—but when the bids came in, the price tag was about $50,000 more.

At the meeting last month, supervisors, Sulc and the construction manager for the project decided to task the township's public works crew with conducting the site work for the building.

Sulc said that change resulted in a savings of about $38,000.

While the original design of the building included two garage doors, one was eliminated as an additional savings.

While supervisors approved several bids associated with the construction so it could begin, Sulc and the construction manager will be working this month to identify any other cost-savings measures. The rest of the bids are expected to be awarded when supervisors meet on June 18.

The building is expected to be completed in August.

And that date can't come soon enough for Sulc.

"Right now I am using every nook and cranny I have," he said, adding that he can't buy many things in bulk—items such as fertilizer or soil—because there is simply nowhere to store them.

But the most important thing will be the efficiency the building will allow.

Sulc said as it stands, equipment is scattered throughout the park.

The building consists of a warehouse, as well as office space complete with a break room.

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