Dugway reopens Community Club

After nearly two years of closure due to renovations and repairs, the Community Club at Dugway Proving Ground reopened March 8. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by the opportunity to order takeout lunch menu items.

“The reopening of the Community Club is a big milestone for our entire community and will make a major impact on quality of life here on Dugway,” said Aaron Goodman, Garrison Manager.

Because of pandemic restrictions, there is no indoor seating. The bar will remain closed until pandemic seating restrictions are lifted.

Initially constructed in 1951-52 as the Officer’s Open Mess, in later decades the building became open to all as the Community Club.

“We’ve done a full renovation on the kitchen, to bring it up to date and make it easier to clean and use,” said Goodman. “We also made major repairs to the club’s (leaking) roof.”

The roof, which leaked into the kitchen, was tackled first. Middle Canyon Electric of Tooele began September 2019 and finished May 2020. MCE also removed old roof equipment and rebuilt the roof’s door entry. Interior work had to wait until the roof was watertight.

Primary contractor for interior work was Pure Enviro Management of Spanish Fork, Utah. PEM subcontracted work for plumbing, electrical, windows, mechanical for ceiling ductwork, wall renovation and fire protection. Kitchen and serving area walls were covered over with panels of hard and smooth Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP).

Both prime contractors – Middle Canyon Electric and Pure Enviro Management – are certified by the Small Business Administration as 8A: a small contractor, disadvantaged by various factors. Both companies attended the Dugway Proving Ground Small Business Fair in the past, where they learned of opportunities for 8A contractors.

Civil Engineer Kent Hawkins said that health inspectors wanted new countertops for the public serving area. Dennis Nichols, chief of the Business and Recreation Division, suggested that FRP be used. Four panels left over from the kitchen project were used for countertops, and installed by MWR personnel.

“We saved the Garrison about $8,000 by doing it ourselves,” said Nichols.

Hawkins headed the Directorate of Public Works team that specified interior redesign and was the contracting officer’s representative, reporting any issues to the contracting officer.

“Making sure that the contractors are doing what they are supposed to do, following their contract,” Hawkins explained his role.

Hawkins was recognized for outstanding effort, and received an ATEC Command Coin from Brig. Gen. David Trybula during the general’s Feb. 22 tour of Dugway Proving Ground. Brig. Gen. Trybula is both commander of White Sands Missile Range, and Deputy Commander of Army Test and Evaluation Command.