Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Plans are in the works for a couple of new facilities in Springfield: one for CWLP‘s water operations, the other for public works‘ streets and traffic work.

Mayor Misty Buscher explained after Tuesday’s city council meeting that the facilities are not mere office buildings.

The public works facility, said Buscher, “needs to house the vehicles, and you have, of course, air ventilation, things like that going on that we need to worry about in both facilities.

“The water facility, if you get a water main break, that is where those folks report to work and store their equipment.

“It has to have a lot of space. It is a very big planning process.”

Buscher said the water facility must move, because the city is donating existing land to the 1908 race riot memorial. The public works facility is about 100 years old and overdue for replacement, said the mayor.

Both centers will be along Clear Lake Avenue. The CWLP facility will be near Wheeler Avenue, and the public works facility will be near 22-nd Street. Buscher said she expects the city to bond out the money for the public works facility, adding a bond refinance has already raised the funds for the water project. She said she hopes both projects will be finished within five years.

The council Dec. 16 will vote on whether to approve the large-scale developments for both