Further development of the design of a remodeled and expanded Weyauwega City Hall and Police Department is now set to begin.
Cedar Corporation, of Green Bay, will develop a schematic design, do more evaluations of the structure of the existing buildings and develop a design for planning and estimating purposes.
The Weyauwega Common Council unanimously voted to move forward with this second phase of the proposed project when it met on Feb. 17.
The council’s decision follows the three public informational meetings held in late January and early February to allow city residents to see the conditions of the current building and learn about the proposed expansion.
Security and accessibility are two issues the city needs to address in the building.
An assessment of City Hall identified a number of items needing to be addressed including a lack of security, proper storage, meeting space, voting space, proper police functions, efficiency and energy efficiency.
There are safety and code defieiencies in the building.
The municipal building was constructed as a Fire Hall and City Hall facility and has served the community since the early 1900s.
The city’s discussion about how to improve City Hall began in 2008.
The options included renovating the current City Hall or constructing a new building on various sites.
After reviewing various options, the Common Council decided to keep City Hall downtown.
Cedar Corporation was retained in 2011 to review City Hall’s suitability for renovation, as well as the two buildings next to it for potential opportunities.
Plans call for a two-story building on three lots – the present lot City Hall and the Police Deparment are located on in downtown Weyauwega – and the lots located next to it.
The council voted in June 2012 to buy the former mall building at 105 E. Main St. and also the building at 107 E. Main St.
Under the latest layout proposal, City Hall and the Police Department would remain at their current location.
The building at 107 E. Main St. would be designated on the street level as a common entrance with restrooms, a dry goods and office space, an elevator and two stairways. The second level would also include a corridor/lobby and restrooms, as well as space for a judge.
The first floor of the former mall building, at 105 E. Main St., would include a community room and kitchen.
The overall project would also include space for the city’s monthly committee and council meetings.
Voting could take place at City Hall, and the senior nutrition site could be located in the community space.
Senior meals are currently held at First Presbyterian Church. The city also rents space from the church for voting.
Cedar Corporation plans to presents its findings from this second phase of the project to the Common Council on July 21.
“As we proceed over the next few months, we will continue to work closely with the City Council to review options and make decisions regarding the layout and building features, systems and finishes. We anticipate that during this step we will have four meetings with the Council,” Thad Majkowski and Cory Scheidler, of Cedar Corporation, wrote in a Feb. 12 memo to City Administrator Patrick Wetzel and the council.
This step of the design process will include further development of the architectural and structural drawings and an overview of the site construction.
As the design is developed, Cedar Corporation will work with the city to provide updated opinions about construction cost and review possible grant opportunities.
For now, a cost range of $1.8 to $2.2 million is being used for the project budget.
The construction cost may include up to three alternate bid recommendations for cost saving considerations, according to Cedar Corporation.
The company proposes completing this phase of work for a fee of $35,300.
Wetzel said this part of the design process will be about learning such things as the plumbing and electrical needs of the project.
Up to this point, the council considered what the exterior of the building could look like and potential floor plans.
Once this second phase of work is completed, the council will evaluate it.
“We’re still in the information gathering phase,” Wetzel said.