PHOTO SPECIAL THE CITIZEN The East County Water Control District will host a campus dedication ceremony and luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. May 17 to celebrate the completion of its administration and maintenance buildings.

The East County Water Control District will host a campus dedication ceremony and luncheon to celebrate the completion of its administration and maintenance buildings, at 601 East County Lane.

The event is scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. May 17. The ECWCD board of commissioners invite the public to join staff, elected officials and local dignitaries at the ceremony. Sen. Michael Bennett will make a special presentation.

The dedication ceremony marks the end of a several-year effort to identify the best solution, size and location for a permanent home to house the district’s maintenance and administrative operations.

“For well over a decade the district had been operating out of temporary trailers or rental offices away from our operations site,” Chairman Michael Welch said. “Our maintenance building was in so much disrepair that it was doubtful it would get through another storm.”

The board approved a two-phase plan for a newly expanded campus, including a 6,835-square-foot one-story administration building, an 8,400-square-foot maintenance building and minor renovations to an existing aquatic plant control hanger.

“Recognizing the times we face, the elected leaders of the district were able to come together to approve the construction of a maintenance building that also protects our equipment and a district administration building that is frugal, utilitarian and respectful of taxpayers’ dollars,” Welch said. “We were able to fund these dire needs without taking more money from taxpayers’ pockets.”

The newly constructed maintenance building houses district equipment and provides a base for the district’s field staff. The facility helps to elevate the district’s services by providing a wash bay with grease and oil separators for cleaning machinery, a clean engine assembly room for on-site heavy equipment repairs and three vehicle lifts for fleet maintenance.

The administration building includes staff offices and a multipurpose room that will host meetings of the board.

AIM Engineering and Surveying Inc. designed the overall site plan for the campus. Burt Hill Pollock Krieg Architects provided the architectural design services for the administration and maintenance buildings, while Owen-Ames-Kimball Company managed the construction.

The dedication ceremony and luncheon is supported through contributions from the campus design consultants and vendors.

“It is a good feeling to have our staff working from one location,” David E. Lindsay, ECWCD district manager, said. “The new campus provides the district with the safety and security to operate efficiently and effectively even in the event of a hurricane.”

Guests are encouraged to RSVP by May 10 at 368-0044, ext. 17, or carlau@ecwcd.com.