Crawford Electric Breaks Ground on New Buildings

Marking the ceremonial start of a comprehensive facilities construction project, representatives of Crawford Electric broke ground June 7 on the co-ops 60-acre campus along Interstate 44 just east of Bourbon.

Since late May, extensive dirt work and site preparation have been under way on the $10.4 million project.

The 67,000-square-foot facility will include a new operations building, vehicle storage facility and warehouse. The project is expected to be finished by late spring 2013.

The project is moving forward after years of consideration and 20 months of intensive planning, which were focused on creating comprehensive facilities to better serve co-op members.

Dan Blesi, Crawford Electrics general manager and CEO, said now is the best time to address the co-ops facilities needs.

The functional deficiencies and issues with the conditions of the current facilities require attention, Blesi said.

Officials noted that hundred of thousands of dollars of co-op assets (vehicles and line material) are currently stored outside. An additional 38,000 square feet of warehouse and garage space is required to adequately secure these assets.

Additionally, the existing warehouse, garage and materials loading areas cannot effectively handle the huge line of trucks utilized.

There also is a lack of appropriately constructed and located facilities which hamper the ability of linemen and operations personnel to respond to power outage emergencies.

Operations are currently housed in a building that is 60 years old, that is undersized by 5,500 square feet, that is a hodgepodge of years of additions and renovations, and that lacks the capacity for further expansion and technological upgrades.

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Crawford Electric Breaks Ground on New Buildings