By Mary Owen
Mayor Harold White called Oct. 27 “a grand day for the city of Aumsville.”
White was joined by city councilors, city staff, invited guests and community members as they broke ground for a new city hall and police station.
Seventeen years ago, a reserve fund was opened to set aside money for the facility.
Since 1962, the city hall staff members have served residents from a small brick building of less than 1,000 square feet, located midway through town on Main Street.
“The building was constructed in 1904 as the first bank for the city,” White said. “For a number of years, that brick building was also used as the home of the police department, court and council chambers.”
But as the city grew, so did the need for a new facility.
In 1999, the city completed a City Hall/Police Facility Study for separate quarters with a combined area of 4,448 square feet and a cost of $1,105,000. At that time, city officials decided to wait and continue to set money aside while looking for other options and designs.
Two years ago, a committee was formed to carry out that work, and this year, the committee and city council, with help from city staff, put the project together with a budget of $1.2 million.
“I think understandably, staff is the most excited about our new city hall and police complex,” said Maryann Hills, Aumsville city administrator.
“After all the intense planning, we look forward to living the dream of having the space we need for more efficient customer service, vital record keeping, police evidence and interviewing, as well as added conference and break rooms.”
The contract for the 6,720-square foot complex has been awarded to Dalke Construction of Salem for just under $1,140,000.
“This will be a brick building that is designed with matching features of the present city hall, which will be used by the Aumsville Historical Society as a historical museum,” White said.
City officials believe the new complex will serve the city well into the future, and will be a centerpiece for the city’s Downtown Improvement Project.
“We are very thankful to our city council and community for continuing to fund the vision through the years to make this project possible, and believe that they will reap the benefits of enhanced city services,” Hill said.
