Leesburg Eyes EDIT Fund To Expand, Renovate Town Hall
March 13, 2018 at 6:38 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
The town council embraced a recommendation Monday night from Umbaugh and Associates that the town use money from its EDIT?fund to pay for the estimated $150,000 project.
Changes involve constructing an adjoining meeting room where the old fire truck driveway sits on the building’s west side.
The plan also calls for two restrooms on the ground level and some office renovations.
The building at the corner of Van Buren and Pearl streets was first used as town hall in 1936, but is not accessible by wheelchair.
In addition to knocking down that barrier, the changes will lead to a realignment of offices.
The council has been meeting for more than a year outside of town limits at the Plain Township building. It will return to the downtown for its meetings when work is complete.
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Clerk-treasurer Mike Searfoss will move into the renovated town hall, and the work space he shares in the building just south of the town hall will likely be absorbed by the street department, Searfoss said.
At the same time, officials plan to turn the front room of the old town hall – accessible from the front steps – into a town museum. The changes will mean the old town hall will be able to host community events, something not permitted under ADA.
“The town of Leesburg needs a place to meet,” said Town Council President Tom Moore.
Moore, along with council members Doug Jones, Christina Archer, expressed an eagerness to move forward with the work.
At the same time, no timetable for project was mentioned Monday.
Umbaugh looked at several funding options, but pointed to the EDIT fund because of its relatively large balance.
The town did not use any money from the fund last year and has no targeted projects this year.
By the end of 2018, the EDIT fund will have a balance of $317,000, according to Umbaugh.
EDIT?generates about $46,000 in income tax a year.
“That’s a nice position to be in,” Moore said.
The council was advised it may have to submit paperwork to the county for its use of the EDIT?money. The town already has two bids on the proposed work. But the council also needs to determine whether the town needs to formally seek bids again.
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The town council embraced a recommendation Monday night from Umbaugh and Associates that the town use money from its EDIT?fund to pay for the estimated $150,000 project.
Changes involve constructing an adjoining meeting room where the old fire truck driveway sits on the building’s west side.
The plan also calls for two restrooms on the ground level and some office renovations.
The building at the corner of Van Buren and Pearl streets was first used as town hall in 1936, but is not accessible by wheelchair.
In addition to knocking down that barrier, the changes will lead to a realignment of offices.
The council has been meeting for more than a year outside of town limits at the Plain Township building. It will return to the downtown for its meetings when work is complete.
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Clerk-treasurer Mike Searfoss will move into the renovated town hall, and the work space he shares in the building just south of the town hall will likely be absorbed by the street department, Searfoss said.
At the same time, officials plan to turn the front room of the old town hall – accessible from the front steps – into a town museum. The changes will mean the old town hall will be able to host community events, something not permitted under ADA.
“The town of Leesburg needs a place to meet,” said Town Council President Tom Moore.
Moore, along with council members Doug Jones, Christina Archer, expressed an eagerness to move forward with the work.
At the same time, no timetable for project was mentioned Monday.
Umbaugh looked at several funding options, but pointed to the EDIT fund because of its relatively large balance.
The town did not use any money from the fund last year and has no targeted projects this year.
By the end of 2018, the EDIT fund will have a balance of $317,000, according to Umbaugh.
EDIT?generates about $46,000 in income tax a year.
“That’s a nice position to be in,” Moore said.
The council was advised it may have to submit paperwork to the county for its use of the EDIT?money. The town already has two bids on the proposed work. But the council also needs to determine whether the town needs to formally seek bids again.
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