Bay County Road Commission seeks new 44,000-square-foot garage and automated wash to protect fleet; commissioners receive report

The Bay County Road Commission on Sept. 9 presented the Bay County Board of Commissioners with plans for a new vehicle storage and maintenance facility meant to protect heavy equipment, reduce maintenance costs and improve employee safety.

Jim Lillo, a member of the road commission management team, told commissioners the current fleet is often stored outside or in buildings that predate modern vehicle sizes and lack fire suppression. "There's a definite need to get them inside," Lillo said, describing trucks parked only inches apart and graders stored on gravel floors.

Lillo said the proposed main structure would be roughly 100 by 300 feet (about 30,000 square feet of truck storage) plus a 40-by-300-foot lean-to for pickups and a 25-by-80-foot automated truck wash, for a total building area "just shy of 44,000 square feet." The design is a pre‑engineered steel building; piles will be required under the foundation because of soft soils at the site on Beaver Road, he said.

Why it matters: Lillo said much of the commission's fleet is expensive, has grown larger in size over recent model years, and is exposed to salt and weather that accelerate corrosion. He said an automated wash and heated, insulated storage could extend equipment life and cut maintenance and water/labor costs.

Details and context: Lillo described multiple existing buildings on the site that his team proposes to demolish to improve traffic flow and consolidate storage. He said many current buildings lack fire suppression, are cramped for modern trucks (he cited examples of trucks being "10 inches apart" inside current storage), and in some cases are built on gravel or dirt floors that can harm undercarriages.

Lillo said the road commission has engaged a design‑build firm (referred to in the presentation as "Truditus Johnson/Spicer") and that plans were about 90% complete. He gave a preliminary cost estimate range previously shown at about $10 million and said the commission now expects the cost to be "$11–12 [million] depending on tariffs and all that, but we're gonna wait and see." He said the final engineer's estimate was expected by the end of the month.

On financing, Lillo said the road commission cannot issue bonds directly and had explored state grants and low‑interest loan programs without success. He said bonding through the county, using the county's favorable bond rating, was the best available option. He presented example bond scenarios for discussion but said terms and final figures remain to be negotiated.

Operations and capacity: The proposed garage would be drive‑through, with heated concrete floors, ventilation, fire suppression and electronic access control. Lillo said the main garage design would accommodate roughly 23 trucks plus two excavators and one grader in covered storage, with a separate heated building for additional pickups and small equipment. He described an automated HydroChem wash system that allows drivers to remain in the cab and that, he said, can cut wash time dramatically compared with manual washing.

Costs and asset values: During the presentation Lillo summarized the commission's asset inventory and replacement costs, and said a substantial portion of equipment is currently exposed to the elements. Where transcript numbers were unclear, commissioners requested more precise, written cost and savings analyses before a financing decision.

Commission reaction and next steps: Commissioners asked about office space in the proposed plan, building color choices, demolition of existing structures, and the projected savings from indoor storage and automated washing. Commissioner Madison thanked Lillo for returning with the requested information, and Commissioner Dockett and others discussed lifespan extension estimates and bond servicing. Lillo invited commissioners to tour comparable facilities and to visit the road commission site.

The board voted to "receive" the report. The item was not a request for immediate county funding or a final bonding authorization; Lillo said a final engineer estimate and further financial detail will be prepared for future consideration.