St. Joseph County Commissioners approve new satellite garage
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The St. Joseph County Commissioners have approved a new site for a proposed $5 million satellite garage in Granger. The county said the garage will provide salt storage and a fueling station, as well as a future facility to house equipment during winter storm events.
The county is acquiring about five acres at the end of Alexander Drive in Granger for the project, which will be completed in two phases.
The first phase will involve the construction of a salt storage barn and fueling station, which is slated for completion this fall.
Commissioner Carl Baxmeyer said the salt barn will be constructed with environmental controls in mind, including a concrete floor with containment measures in place to keep any salt- or fuel-contaminated liquid from escaping the building.
The county’s current facility in Granger, Baxmeyer said, created some environmental issues for nearby residents who experienced higher levels of salt in their water due to salt seeping into the ground. An agreement reached with the residents involved closing and relocating the facility.
The new Alexander Drive site is located in an industrial zoned area, away from residential homes.
“Moving ahead will allow the county to provide a level of service to residents in Granger and the Northeast portion of the county,” Councilor Dan Schaetzle said in a news release. “It allows us to meet the goal of demolishing the current Granger garage by the end of the year without compromising service.”
The second phase of the project will involve the construction of a new garage to position highway vehicles during winter storms. A timeline for completion on that phase has not yet been determined.
The entire project is being funded through American Rescue Plant Act dollars.