divided over City Hall

January 21, 2002

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2002-01-19

By Bob Doucette

The Oklahoman

DAVIS -- A new City Hall is being planned, but several people in want

to keep and restore the old, storm-damaged municipal building.

The city council met Thursday to discuss the issue with residents, although

the council already voted in December to build a new City Hall. But even if

a building is constructed, there are many who want the old building saved.

" The ones who want to keep the building don't necessarily want to have city

hall put back in it, " said Pat Norrell, who hopes the building is restored.

" We just want to preserve the old building. "

The Memorial Day storms that hit ripped the roof from the old

building. Rain drenched the ceiling, walls and floor. City officials were

forced to temporarily move their offices to another building.

For more than six months, the interior of the building has been exposed to

the elements, said City Clerk a Pollard.

It will cost $67,000 to remove the mold-infested interior and treat the rest

of the building, Pollard said.

That cost doesn't include a new interior and fixing the roof. A roof would

cost $27,000.

The building housed city hall, the police department and the fire

department. Officials said space was cramped.

Buildings for the police and fire departments could cost up to $280,000

each. No estimates were available on the cost of a new city hall.

" It's a real touchy issue, " Pollard said. " No one wants to tear the old

building down. Either way, it's going to be expensive. "

Councilman L.W. Ensminger, who voted for a new building, said, " I feel like

it's been there for a hundred years, it's got the top off it and the stuff

inside it rotted. "

Norrell disagreed.

" It's a hundred years old. It would be expensive. But to me, even if it did

cost a little more, it would still cost less than a new building. "

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