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A look at Wetumpka’s new city hall
By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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Work will soon be in full swing converting the former Colonial Bank building on S. Main St. to a new Wetumpka City Hall. And Tex Grier, the city’s building inspector will be in the thick of the action.
As soon as the carpeting in the newest part of the 21,000-square-foot building is given a thorough cleaning, and the prospective building department offices are equipped with phone and computer connections, Grier and the department’s staff will make the move to new quarters.
The approach will put Grier on site to closely supervise the modifications that will be made to the building to prepare it for the advent of other employees.
During a tour of the facility, Grier discussed the work that is planned.
As visitors enter the building through the entrance facing S. Main St., offices for the city clerk, mayor’s administrative assistant and the mayor will be on the right hand side. A reception desk will also be located on that side.
Across a central expanse of tile, former teller windows will be reworked to form a long counter. Behind the counter space will be other offices and file areas.
In the newer part of the structure, located in the rear of the building, public works employees will move into offices near those slated to house the building department.
Few areas on the second floor have been designated for use. But computer servers will be located there.
“We will have the computer system in this room, which will be climate-controlled,” said Grier.
Discussion is still under way about whether or not an already-equipped break room on the second floor will be used, or if another break room will be constructed on the ground floor.
The elevator in the building is currently out of commission, which translates into a lack of handicapped access to the upper area.
Cost of repairing the elevator versus the expense of adding a new break room will likely be weighed before a final decision is reached.
Extensive office space is also located on the second floor, offering room for future expansion in the new city hall. In addition, there is a large unfinished area upstairs that may eventually become the city council’s meeting room.
Grier said that the room would require carpeting, a ceiling and wrapping exposed support beams to be suitable for use. But before the space could be utilized, provision of handicapped access to the floor would be required.
A plus for the city is the quantity of furniture that was included in the purchase. Conference tables, desks, hutches, leather-covered chairs, filing systems, bookshelves, framed art and even a room full of safe deposit boxes were left by the former owners.
“They moved out quite a bit of stuff,” Grier said. “I think a lot of it went to other Colonial branches, but there is still a lot left here.”
The city’s building department is expected to be ensconced in the building by July, and other departments will follow when the renovation is complete.
“I hope everybody will be there by September,” said Mayor Jo Glenn.
The city purchased the former bank, which includes land extending from South Main St. to the river, for $1.82 million earlier this year and took possession the last day of April.
