An expansion of the City of Newcastle Street Department is underway. The City Council approved a purchase during their Monday, March 10 meeting of property, at 1880 N.E. 16th Street. This is next to the existing Street Department facility.
Mayor Karl Nail said the Street Department doesn’t have room for office space and storage of materials, but the location is perfect since it is next door.
“This will provide them with their own shop bays, and more office space, plus it has 10 acres which will give them plenty of room for storage,” Nail said.
The property, when added to the City’s existing 10 acres, provides for a full 20 acres. It has a fenced-in yard for storage of equipment and materials such as sand and salt.
City Manager Kevin Self said the City has a long, skinny 10 acres and the property adjacent to it is the same size. He said it has a nice building and two large bays, and would be perfect for the street department to office in. They currently are officed in a portable building.
“This is the type of opportunity that is very hard for us to pass up,” Self said. “It is usable and complements our existing facilities.”
The cost of the purchase was $990,450. The property value was set at $600,000, and three semi-trucks that came with the property were valued at about $429,989. There was also various other tools and equipment that are part of the purchase. The business was formerly a rolloff container business, and there were roll-offs that were not part of the purchase.
Self said the building is in great shape, and it will fit nicely with the City’s current needs. The City has approved financing on the purchase.
