A dry winter has meant City of Manteca vehicle maintenance workers rarely have to worry about raindrops falling on them as they work on large vehicles such as refuse collection trucks and fire engines.

That’s because work on the city’s 300-plus vehicles is being performed in a wood and corrugated metal building that was erected when Model T Fords were in style. That means garbage trucks and fire engines that can cost $300,000 are worked on under a makeshift canopy that still exposes the vehicle to the elements as it is being serviced.

That will all change by next winter.

The city is in the process of building a new vehicle maintenance facility on the southeast corner of South main and Wetmore streets across from the new animal shelter.

The two-tone steel proletarian structure won’t win any architectural contests. Compared, however, to the existing vehicle maintenance building it’ll practically be a Taj Mahal.

The existing facility has two access doors for vehicles. The new building will have 10. That in itself will reduce costs by eliminating time-consuming movements of vehicles. Currently vehicles have to be constantly moved due to limited access and “stacked” work areas.

The new building will have a design emulating modern-day service centers where parts, equipment, and access are all coordinated. The converted former South San Joaquin Irrigation District building that was once reportedly used as a horse barn has been repeatedly modified inside in Winchester House fashion to accommodate basic work as well as more sophisticated diagnostic equipment.

The new building is part of an overall effort to streamline municipal operations to reduce annual operating costs and to situate the city for at least 20 years of growth.

The tab is being covered by growth fees or charges to enterprise accounts such as water and sewer that have operations making use of various facilities.

The existing vehicle maintenance building – along with the nearby water tower – will be razed for other corporation yard improvements.