The new $2.6 million Kyle Public Works Department site adds roughly 10,000 square feet of workspace to the maturing department, which has grown drastically over the past year. (Photos by Sean Kimmons)

A public works truck sits outside the maintenance bays that will give the department room to handle its fleet of 18 vehicles and 20 pieces of equipment.

The large, eco-friendly maintenance bays at the site include top-lit windows to provide natural lighting.

by SEAN KIMMONS

The maturing Kyle Public Works Department officially moved up from its deteriorating headquarters to a new $2.6 million site in the city’s eastside on Friday.

For years, the department has been challenged by the city’s population boom with a small crew to handle jobs in an aging metal hangar with dirt floors along FM 150 near Gregg-Clarke Park.

The new 14,000 square foot site, adding roughly 10,000 square feet of more workspace, is located a few miles down FM 150 next to the P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter on a former wastewater treatment plant.

The site, comprised of two buildings, will be home to the public works administration and maintenance bays. The department maintains city streets, water systems, wastewater systems, and drainage systems as well as other responsibilities, city officials say.

“Many of the functions of our Public Works Department occur out of the notice of most residents, but the result of these functions has a very positive effect on the quality of life for our residents,” Interim City Manager James Earp said. “This facility greatly improves our ability to keep pace with our growing city.”

To minimize the city’s carbon footprint, the site incorporates environmentally friendly enhancements, including rainwater harvesting, indirect solar lighting and native landscaping, city officials say.

Recently, the department has also been given a boost in its employment ranks to keep up with the sprouting city, expected to surpass 30,000 residents.

In 2006, the department had only six personnel and has grown to its current staff of 31 employees. Public Works Director Harper Wilder has said that he would like to see up to 50 employees for the department to be fully functional.

The department handles a fleet of 18 vehicles and 20 pieces of equipment to sustain more than 1,800 miles of roadway and 215 miles of water and wastewater pipelines, city officials say.

Crews are projected to repair 600 potholes and repair or replace 240 signs next year. Additionally, work orders for street repair and improvement have increased from 249 in 2008, to more than 1,200 for the current year, and are projected to increase to more than 1,400 next year, according to city figures.

The public works site is part of the city’s comprehensive building program designed to counter a growing demand for services. A new city hall, fire station and swimming pool have already been completed under the program, with proposed projects, such as a recreation center and police station, pending council and voter approval, and a library still waits to be built.