Demolition begins at Greensburg public works garage destroyed by fire

Demolition began this week on Greensburg’s fire-ravaged public works garage on South Urania Avenue.

The work is expected to take about two weeks, though it could take a bit longer because of the holidays, said Tom Bell, the city’s public works superintendent and fire chief.

The city hired Ritenour & Sons Construction Co., of Connellsville, to do the work at a cost of $17,000, paid for with insurance money.

The Oct. 12 fire destroyed the garage, three dump trucks, a front loader, skid steer, street sweeper and pump truck, Bell said. Two other dump trucks were damaged and will be repaired.

The city is working to replace the lost equipment. Council has approved leasing one truck, buying two more, and buying a skid steer.

In the meantime, the public works department has enough trucks to handle plowing and salting when winter weather hits, Bell said.

“Right now we’re good,” he said.

Between surviving trucks and those on loan from private companies, Greensburg has six plows ready to go. It normally has seven, according to Bell.

City officials are discussing how to replace the garage.

The city fleet had outgrown the old warehouse, according to Bell. Council will have to decide whether to replace it with a building of similar size, or build a new, larger structure, either on the existing site or a new location.

The city will hire an architect to draw up plans for a new garage.

Insurance is expected to pay enough to replace the old garage with a similar structure. The city would have to pay any additional costs for a larger building.

The city received $350,000 in insurance payments as a result of the fire and expects more once appraisals are complete.