By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The demolition of a building has signaled what may soon bring to reality the longtime dream of Adams County on Aging Director Michelle Lengerich.
The building on the northwestern portion of the MERIT Center lot was recently razed to make way for a garage to house the vehicles of Adams County Transit, the countywide transportation system which was launched last January under the leadership of Lengerich.
“My seven-year dream is coming true,” she told WZBD.com.
The out building was one of two on the patch of land near 12th St. The other building, used by a charitable organization, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
“My goal is to have it (garage) up by the end of the year, or early January,” Lengerich said.
“Mark Wynn is my project manager and is doing a fabulous job getting things lined up and on track.
“Once the garage is up, it will cut down on the time the hydraulic lift vehicles need to warm up to become operational, therefore getting on the road quicker and serving Adams County even better,” she explained.
The council on aging has had four vehicles spending winters outdoors. And with the advent of the transportation system, two more vehicles get to spend an Indiana winter outside … until the garage is up and open.
Luginbill Excavating took down the out building – at one time used by Northwest Elementary School, now the MERIT Center – and removed much of the debris in two days.
It is hoped that Martin Schwartz Construction can soon begin doing concrete and foundation work. The following step will be framing by Arnold’s and Amos Schwartz, then plumbing work by Liechty Brothers.
DH Electric has the contract for the electrical work, to be followed by HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) installation by Liechty Bros.
“I am beyond grateful for the support we have received from county council and commissioners,” Lengerich said in outlining the steps to be taken to get the garage up.
Under an inter-local agreement between the City of Decatur and Adams County, the city has provided the council on aging with a rent-free, 20-year lease in the building owned by the city.
The county paid the city $200,000 for the .7 of an acre of land on which the garage will be situated.
The Council on Aging and Director Lengerich moved into the former school in November of 2021, exiting the Adams County Service Complex.
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