Advance Tank gives Wellington Boys & Girls Club a boost

By Gary Raham
North Forty News

Advance Tank & Construction specializes in building and installing welded stainless and carbon steel tanks, bins, hoppers, silos and smokestacks. Since 1984 it has operated at 3700 E. County Road 64, east of Buffalo Creek subdivision in Wellington.

When the Wellington extension of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County faced the prospect of closure for lack of funds several months ago, Advance Tank decided to engage in a different kind of building project: helping the club find a bigger and better home for its hundred plus members.

"We wanted to help in a more substantial way than just contributing to operating costs," said Lisa Clay, company officer and corporate counsel for the company. The company's donation of $75,000 will certainly help the cause.

Clay said she believes that the club engages youth in productive activities. In the early days of Advance Tank's tenure in Wellington, she said, it suffered from occasional, minor vandalism, but that hasn't happened in the last 10 to 15 years. She credits the success of the Boys & Girls Club as being at least partly responsible.

While the donation could be used to expand the club's present facilities at Wellington's downtown park, Clay favors the construction of a new building.

"We'd like to see a longer-term impact," she said. "The old facilities (even if expanded) might not be good for more than five years."

A steering committee that includes Kathi Wright, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County; Kari Jo Lawrence, the Wellington club director; and several town officials and community members is actively looking at possible options. Wright acknowledged that Buffalo Creek Park just west of Boxelder Creek and north of County Road 64 is one prospective site, although it offers several hurdles, including location, town services, and the precise way the property could be acquired.

Although fairly close to the center of town, Eyestone Elementary and Wellington Middle School, Buffalo Creek Park resides across town from Rice Elementary.

From that standpoint, Wright said, "Buffalo Creek doesn't look good, so other sites will be evaluated in light of school locations."

Town water and sewer services are not far from Buffalo Creek Park, but development of the park is still in the design stage, according to Larry Lorentzen, town administrator.

"We will be looking for some kind of grant money for the park area," he said.

Lorentzen also pointed out that property at the park couldn't be sold to the Boys & Girls Club without an election to approve such a sale. However, he said, it might be possible to work out a long-term lease arrangement. Currently, the town supports the club by giving rent-free use of the existing building and paying utilities.

Another goal of Advance Tank in making its donation to the club, said Clay, is to "get the residents of Wellington more involved and supportive of the club."

Hashing out the details of how to best use their generosity may provide the motivation to do just that. To provide input, contact Wright at kwright@bgclarimer.org or phone 223-1709, extension 105. Call 568-3381 to contact Wellington Town Hall with ideas.