The RCKC was formed in 1909 and at the end of 2020, RCKC maintained 1,269 miles of roads throughout the 576 square-mile county. RCKC’s organization includes 57 employees — 25 administrative and 32 road maintenance operators and mechanics. In 2019, the RCKC engaged in a study of its current operations and facilities. After careful review and consideration of these reports and other factors, the RCKC board approved the purchase of a vacant 40-acre parcel of land located on 26th Street in Comstock Township, which is planned to be a new operations and administrative complex for RCKC.
Fishbeck provided programming, planning, and design services for the complex, serving the entire Kalamazoo County. Construction is underway, with completion scheduled for Spring of 2024. The operations will incorporate a new 35,000-sf administration facility with office space for each road commission employee — promoting unity among staff. Additionally, all employees will share the same break room. The 108,000-sf vehicle storage building includes an undercarriage drying system to remove ice from the plows and an 8-foot raised walkway between rows, providing a safer way to navigate the large facility. A 43,000-sf vehicle maintenance facility is attached to both the storage and administration buildings, allowing employees to traverse easily between all buildings without exiting the facilities. Miscellaneous buildings in the complex include a new salt/sand storage building with an aerial spray boom to saturate salt from above, an automated vehicle wash building, cold storage, and an automated scale facility.
