Mayor’s Minutes: New Hope’s Kathi Hemken
The City of New Hope recently began construction on the second phase of its planned expansion at the public works facilty on International Parkway.
Construction as part of phase two of a planned expansion for the New Hope Public Works building is underway this spring, says Mayor Kathi Hemken.
Mayor Kathi Hemken talked with CCX Media’s Dave Kiser. She said the plan was to expand the indoor parking areas for all of the city’s more than 40 public works vehicles. To do so, in phase one in 2021, a separate shelter was built for the salt and sand crews use in the wintertime, she said. That way, more vehicles could be parked indoors.
“They kind of get forgotten back there, but they really do so much stuff,” said Hemken. “It’s really quite a big facility.”
She said it was split into two phases because of cost and because the building needed to remain operational while construction was happening. Phase one also included updated security systems for the building.
Phase two, which began this spring, has started and will include a 20,000-square foot garage to hold even more equipment.
“We needed more room,” Hemken said.
She also pointed out that the city promised residents there would not be another bonding bill for at least another ten years after construction of the new city hall and the aquatic park. Hemken said the cost of the expansion is paid for from saved money over the last decade.
