The Barry County Transit is moving ahead with a major improvement project that includes a 2,950 square foot addition to the bus garage, a 1,160 square foot addition to the dispatch center, renovation of existing office space and expanded parking lot with the total cost of $1 to $1.3 million to come from transit funds.
Transit Manager Bill Voigt said soil borings are scheduled for Oct 31. After that, he plans to look at final design renderings with Bob Van Putten, president of Landmark Design Group. Voigt said the plans are to break ground in early spring of 2019 and complete the project in the fall of the year.
“A lot of these are things we would have to do anyway,” Voigt said, “but, I’m excited to be moving ahead.” Voigt had led the transit into several new areas of service and said he will continue to look for more ways to serve the public. “We’re happy to be part of the Barry County community.”
In May, he sought permission from county commissioners to make the improvements.
However, commissioersn had just started planning for a new county jail and needed an appraisal of the property the transit shares with the jail before they could move ahead, and tabled his request. Commissioners approved moving the project forward last month.
