The industry-leading manufacturer of tension fabric buildings, ClearSpan Fabric Structures offers American-made structures and in-house engineering, manufacturing, installation and financing. ClearSpan buildings feature exceptional height and wide-open spaces with ample clearance for access and ease of movement. (Photo provided)

When the Stephenson County Highway Department lost its old salt storage building during a windstorm in July 2011, County Engineer Chris Isbell had to make a quick decision to be ready for the upcoming winter. The highway department, located in northwestern Illinois, had previously been using a wooden bin inside a 100-year-old dairy barn. That building, which was part of an old county farm, held only about 750 tons of salt — approximately 25 percent of the county’s average annual usage. Explains Isbell, “The building also didn’t provide any storage space for our salt/aggregate mix, requiring a full-time loader operator to mix material as it was used.”

After the building was destroyed, Isbell knew the county needed a solution that could be delivered and constructed very quickly, yet meet the county’s needs for storing salt and salt/aggregate mix. He started researching traditional wooden structures, as well as fabric buildings, while the insurance company finished its review. He notes, “During this research, I determined that fabric buildings cost less and could be constructed more quickly than wood-framed structures. The speed of getting something erected was very crucial in our instance, as a building needed to be up and ready to receive salt before Nov. 1, to give us time to get ready for the winter season.”

Isbell discovered ClearSpan Fabric Structures through the search engines and trade magazines and, after the bidding process, the highway department purchased two Hercules Truss Arch Buildings because of their quick turnaround time, durability and corrosion resistance.

ClearSpan fabric buildings cost less and can be constructed more quickly than wood-framed structures. In Stephenson County speed mattered last year, because the previous salt storage facility was destroyed during a summer windstorm. (Photo provided)

“We now have one building large enough to hold a full year’s supply of salt and a second building that can hold half a year’s supply of our salt/aggregate mix,” he said. “We no longer have to have a loader operator present to mix material as it is being used. This has freed up man power and eliminated the need to hire a temporary, part-time employee.”

The buildings are also very low maintenance, he said, and are freeing up budget dollars for road maintenance that would have had to been used for building maintenance. “They are working out great!”

From purchase to installation, ClearSpan wowed Stephenson County.

“The office staff was able to get the buildings ordered and delivered in a timely manner, and they even shipped a week early. The installation crews were also quick and professional. This is a very professional company with very professional crews. I would highly recommend them,” Isbell added.

ClearSpan Fabric Structures is the industry-leading manufacturer of tension fabric buildings, offering American-made structures with in-house engineering, manufacturing, installation and financing. ClearSpan buildings feature exceptional height and wide-open spaces with ample clearance for access and ease of movement. Constructed in the USA from the highest quality steel and fabric, these buildings can be built to any length and up to 300 feet wide. For more information, visit www.ClearSpan.com/ADTM or call (866) 643-1010 to speak with a ClearSpan specialist.

Information provided by ClearSpan Fabric Structures.