September 9, 2024 |
Photo – Black Hills Energy employees with city council – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Black Hills Energy has donated an office building to the City of Rawlins, which will be used by the Parks Department.
During last week’s city council meeting, the governing body moved to accept a donated building from Black Hills Energy. Parks and Recreation Director Nikki Howell said the utility company has agreed to give the city a 1,680 square foot modular building to use as a parks office. Howell said the city will be required to pay to move the structure one block, from its current location at 1411 McMicken Street to 1500 East Daley Street.
Howell said the current parks office is in bad shape. A document provided by the city lists a rotting foundation, lack of running water, broken pipes, leaking roof, and holes in the walls as reasons the building is unusable. The parks and rec director said the donated structure is move in ready.
Black Hills Energy Senior Community Affairs Manager Laurie Farkas told Bigfoot99 that the company recently moved into a larger structure and no longer needs the modular office building. After reaching out to Rawlins officials, Farkas said the decision was made to give the building to the city.
Farkas said Rawlins officials chose to use the donated building to replace the dilapidated parks office. The community affairs manager said by giving the building to the city, Black Hills Energy is continuing its tradition of supporting the community.
Back at last week’s Rawlins city council meeting, Howell told the governing body that moving the donated building is estimated to cost $15,000. Because the new structure is slightly larger than the existing parks office, Howell said a new foundation will need to be built for an additional $30,000.
Mayor Terry Weickum said the old parks office needs to be torn down and removed. Even with the cost to move and install the donated building, Mayor Weickum said the city would still spend less than it would on new construction.
The city council unanimously voted to accept the donated building from Black Hills Energy.
