Area businessman set sights firmly on new dealership
Mike Hanigan talks about preliminary work at interstate site with commissioners
By Brandi Mack
Argus Observer
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 10:37 AM PDT
Payette — Mike Hanigan, owner of Hanigan Motors, said he is ready to begin the first phase of the new General Motors dealership off of Exit 3 in Fruitland.
“I’m excited to begin all of this,” Hanigan said. “It’s been an interesting ride, and I’m ready to begin construction.”
Hanigan talked about a conceptual plan for the development of a new Hanigan Motors dealership during a public hearing Monday before the Payette County Commissioners.
During the session Hanigan said he was pleased with the cooperation between himself and the commissioners.
Hanigan currently owns four car dealerships in the Treasure Valley, including one in Payette, currently at 915 S. Main St.
Hanigan said the first phase of the project will be the development of the GM Dealership, and, eventually, the second phase will be the growth of a Chrysler, Chevrolet dealership. Hanigan said hopefully the new site will attract two dealerships, but he is pushing for three.
He said the 35,000 square feet, 51⁄2 acres of asphalt, will be mainly the GM Dealership in the future.
He said, currently, well drillers are in the area, working on the first step of digging a drinking water well for the dealership.
He said the bid process just ended last week with at least nine bids being sent in.
The bid process, Hanigan said, is going to be held a little differently than most businesses.
“We are going to be doing a post-bid interview with the candidates at the end of this week,” Hanigan said. “If we can identify our candidate by the end of this month, we’ll hopefully be breaking ground in May, mid month, and the process to build is about nine months or so.”
Hanigan said the property will have one well for drinking water and the other well will be a fire suppression well in front of the building.
He said the drainage will be maintained on-site, and a new county road is being designed and set aside for future development.
He said, as far as the well is concerned, that has been one of the longest processes of the whole development.
“We signed the well papers in December, and it will be August before we can drink or operate from that well,” Hanigan said. “Water’s a big deal. It’s an expensive deal.”
Hanigan said he is looking forward to working with the community and commissioners on combining the two dealerships of Chevrolet and gaining the new exposure.
“I think this new facility will gain some new customers and gain some positive exposure in the area,” Hanigan said. “I am just really excited about this new venture.”
