Renovations for new city hall in Scott City half done

The Scott City government hopes to move into its new home by Jan. 1, but that depends on how quickly they can get the work done with in-kind labor.

The city council authorized city administrator Ron Eskew to sign a contract to purchase a former Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall at 215 Chester St. for $159,000 to become a new city hall.

The deal was closed Aug. 30. Money to buy the building from the Witnesses' Cape Girardeau South Congregation will come from the city's capital improvements tax extended in 2005 and money received from housing county prisoners at the city jail.

In 2006, the city received about $111,000 from the county for housing county prisoners when the county jail population was too large to accommodate them. The money was unbudgeted, creating a small windfall for the city, Eskew said.

How the purchase price will be split between the two funds has not yet been determined, Eskew said.

Right now walls are being erected in the building to create offices for the mayor and the city collector. A front lobby with a counter is also being constructed.

"We might be about halfway through renovation," Eskew said. "We're probably looking at four to eight weeks until completion. It's hard to guess."

Mayor Tim Porch has supplied the city with free labor from his contracting company, Interior Plus. While that helps the city save money on labor costs, it also means the work can only occur when Porch's employees don't have other jobs to complete first.

Once the city government moves out of its current location, the police department, fire department and municipal court will share the current city hall.

Police chief Don Cobb said once the city government moves out of the building, the remaining departments will determine how to split the space. Right now the department's work space is cramped, and Cobb hopes the move will give him space for more desks, a larger evidence room and possibly an interview room and a special cell for suicide watches.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182