Linn County Secondary Roads Maintenance Facilities

Building Better Backroads

Mike Drahos, P.E., Mechanical Engineer, Office Manager

The Linn County Secondary Roads Department maintains over 1,150 miles of roads and 255 bridges across rural Iowa—an essential service that demands reliable infrastructure and well-equipped facilities. To support these operations, West Plains Engineering designed two key projects aimed at improving fleet management and operational efficiency.

The first was a 25,000-square-foot fleet facility at Morgan Creek, designed for indoor vehicle storage and minor maintenance. With a $3.3 million budget, the building included an office, mezzanine, workshop, wash bay, and expansive vehicle bays. Site infrastructure such as fuel dispensing, septic system, well, LP tank, and emergency generator was integrated through coordinated MEP design.

Mechanical systems supported fleet operations with plumbing for sand/oil separators, compressed air, and LP or electric water heaters. HVAC included an LP furnace for the office and infrared heaters with cross-flow ventilation for vehicle bays. Electrical systems provided high-bay LED lighting, power distribution to equipment, and site utilities, including backup power for critical loads.

Following the successful completion of the fleet facility in 2023, WPE started a second initiative: a new 75,500-square-foot headquarters. This $15.7 million project is currently under construction and will feature modern office spaces, a parking garage, fleet vehicle storage, and a fully equipped maintenance shop.

The office area will utilize water-source heat pumps paired with a horizontal geothermal heat exchanger field for efficient air conditioning. Parking garages will include cross-flow ventilation, while make-up air units and exhaust fans will provide proper ventilation for the repair shop and wash bays. These areas will also feature in-floor radiant heating and high-efficiency gas unit heaters for optimal comfort.

Electrical work encompasses lighting, power distribution, and rough-ins for communications, access control, and security systems. To ensure reliability, the facility will be equipped with an emergency generator to support critical loads.

These projects reflect Linn County’s ongoing efforts to modernize its infrastructure and support essential public services. The continued collaboration with West Plains Engineering highlights the value of consistent, well-coordinated design across a range of facility types.