MONROE — The city is in the early stages for creation of a new or revamped public works garage facility and has commissioned a firm to go over all its available options.

“We are looking at existing sites, as well as new sites,” said Public Works Director Al Gerber. 

And it is possible, he told the city council finance and taxation committee during their May 22 meeting, that they could share such a facility with the county highway and perhaps even the parks departments.

The committee agreed to tap Milwaukee-based Barrientos Design & Consulting to help with a design and space needs study. The firm has done extensive public projects including other public works facilities for other Wisconsin localities.

“They are very well-versed in public works,” projects, said Gerber. “I’m fairly impressed with the concepts that they have already done.”

The price for the work would be about $28,735, officials said. Much of the existing public works facility dates to 1966 and is woefully inadequate for today’s needs, they added.

“I think that price seems reasonable given all the tasks that they have listed here,” said Ald. Mary Jane Grenzow. “We certainly couldn’t do that ourselves.”

The firm wouldn’t design any specific building but it will likely be able to present an estimate of what the various options for what one would cost.

“Their concepts would be fairly well detailed,” said Gerber, adding that current highway and road equipment is typically much bigger than it was previously — creating a need for more space — and that state regulations also call for updated facilities.

The measure must still go to the full city council for approval.

“Hopefully they give us a good plan,” said committee chair Richard Thoman. “We’ve spent a lot of money on studies before.”