POST FALLS — The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an $11.7 million project to design and construct a new public works operations center. 

“What this lets us do is keep most if not all of the public works and management under one roof so there’s better collaboration between groups,” Public Works Director John Beacham said.  

The streets, water operations and utilities administration divisions will be moving to the new facility, and they will eventually be joined by the fleet division after additional funding becomes available. 

City officials plan to develop the new site on 9.5 acres of city-owned property on Hargrave Avenue, east of Pleasant View Road.  

“There’s a shortage for available 10-acre sites with zoning we want and we can afford,” Beacham said, adding that the new location would be close to Corbin Road and Prairie Avenue. 

The project was included in the budget this year after being made a recommendation in the 2021 facilities master plan.  

In 2022, land was purchased, and last year the council approved a feasibility study conducted by Integrus Architecture.  

About $5.7 million of the project will come from the general fund, $5.2 million will come from the water budget and about $800,000 will come from water reclamation. 

The project draws from the facilities reserve account, which is intended to cover capital projects like this one. 

Construction is expected to take about a year and a half. 

Beacham also noted the new location gives staff and city services room to expand to fit the needs of the city as it continues to grow. 

If the selected site doesn’t hold up to the design phase, city officials will revisit potential locations for the project. 

No immediate bonding is necessary to fund the project.