By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Bruce Skiles is a man who needs something to keep him busy — even after he retires in a few years.

After starting a medical career as a chiropractor and then becoming an anesthetist, Skiles bought a downtown building he fixed up before he sold it, and then bought and renovated two houses at the county lake.

“I’m going to be retiring here in a few years, and I wanted something I could do part-time,” Skiles said.

That’s why he bought a derelict car wash about a year ago and has been working on it ever since. He redid its office and workshop, and rejuvenated the truck bay.

“I’ve had everything completely refurbished,” Skiles said. “I’ve done a lot of work.”

A high-tech wash bay with laser-equipped wash equipment will measure the car so the device knows exactly what size it is, where it begins and ends, and where it sits inside the bay. There are no tracks to follow as the driver pulls into the bay. The equipment is partially installed and awaits the final touches by installers.

“I think we will be open by June 1,” Skiles said.

An open house will allow customers to try out the new automatic wash sometime in June.