Road commission shows off upgraded buildings

The new-look St. Joseph County Road Commission headquarters in Centreville and an adjacent barn for equipment storage received high praise during a tour for township supervisors Tuesday.
The two projects were at the center of the event, led by road commission officials and board members. It featured a look at the 24,000-square-foot barn and a fully rehabilitated administrative office. The office is 53-years-old and the upgrades were a long time coming, road commission manager Chris Minger said.
Together, the two projects come with a price tag of about $1.1 million.
John Lindsey, road commission director of fleet and facilities, said the equipment storage facility is necessary because it will house items currently at the agency’s Colon- and Three Rivers-area garages. The road commission has adopted a plan to sell the locations.
Meanwhile, the commission dedicated $645,000, almost its entire 2016 equipment-replacement budget, to cover expenses related to the remodel of the 5,500-square-foot administrative office and adjacent garage.
A key component to the latter project is the creation of a single-pitch roof over what was a two-pitch roof.