SHELBURNE — Circle B of Lancaster was awarded a $69,472 contract to supply materials for a new pole barn that is slated to be installed at the Highway Garage.

“The Highway Department has a lot of equipment and not a lot of room to store it under cover,” Town Administrator Terry Narkewicz explained in an email. “A pole barn would provide for much-needed storage and protect the town’s equipment from the weather.”

The department keeps much of its equipment outside at 24 Colrain Shelburne Road. There is also a makeshift shelter, crafted using floor trusses and a recycled tarp, that protects a boom mower from the elements.

At last year’s Annual Town Meeting, voters appropriated $100,000 for a pole barn. Half the money for the project was appropriated through taxes while the other half came from the town’s stabilization fund.

Although towns across the region are seeing bids for projects come in far above what they expected, this bid came in lower than the town had planned. However, the bid from Circle B does not include the price of installation and electrical work. Therefore, the project may cost the town the additional $30,000 that is left over from the appropriation.

Original plans for the pole barn included roof-mounted solar arrays, but the budget does not currently account for solar panels. The Energy Committee is researching grant opportunities and other potential funding sources that would allow the town to add the solar panels later, according to Narkewicz.

The pole barn will be three-sided with one secure bay in the four-bay structure. It will be 80 feet by 40 feet wide.

“The Highway Department has over $100,000 worth of equipment sitting under the sun, rain and snow,” Selectboard member Robert Manners said. “We wanted to build the pole barn to protect the longevity of the equipment.”

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recrder.com.

]]>