Published: March 18, 2008 11:49 am      

Charlestown City Hall upgrades under way

Renovations at Charlestown City Hall will proceed with approval from the City Council Monday to go ahead with the project. The second floor of the building will be completely renovated — creating more offices, a new conference room, a reception area, more storage space, and the installation of an elevator.

David Flowe, who is heading up the project, said the renovations will relieve congestion in the first floor offices and create a facility to store city records. The electrical wiring also will have to be completely redone, Flowe said.

The project is expected to cost about $50,000, with the exception of the cost of the elevator. Flowe estimated the construction of the elevator will cost an additional $75,000.

The city will use jail inmates and volunteers to perform construction, with help from Flowe. Almost all of the hardwood to be used for flooring, cabinets and other woodwork will be donated to the city from 43 homes to be demolished at the River Ridge Commerce Center.

The parks department will also create interpretive displays for the renovated part of city hall “to show where it came from and the history of the area for future generations,” said Mayor Bob Hall.

Funding for the project will come from the city redevelopment fund.

In other business:

• The council is in the process of finding and appointing members to the newly created Parks Advisory Council. The City Council will appoint two members, the mayor will appoint four members, and the clerk-treasurer will appoint one member.

• Mayor Hall said he is looking for community members who can represent the youth leagues, summer programs, activities at the Arts and Enrichment Center, and youth summer camps.

No appointees have been named.

• Building Commissioner Tony Jackson told the council he expects to introduce an ordinance from the Plan Advisory Commission to change the building permit fees in the city. Jackson said the ordinance will likely be created at a commission meeting in April, and the ordinance will come before the council at the April 21 or May 5 meeting.