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Midway votes city hall project forward
midway sign

The Midway City Council has voted to proceed with its new city hall complex after trimming more than $240,000 in costs.

Mayor Levern Clancy Jr. said Midway has the money for the construction and no design changes have been made. Officials and architects have cut costs by making changes that will not hurt the form or function of the building, they say. Examples include using less expensive plumbing fixtures, tile, and flashing, and features like automatic light switches and faucets.

The reductions in costs were possible because the initial price estimates were all in higher ranges.

"Everything was priced as Cadillacs, not Volkswagens," council member Dr. Clemontine Washington said.

Early conceptual drawings shown to the council depicted a double-winged building with the two major city functions, city council and municipal court, "front and center." A large room intended for council meetings and municipal court is right off the entrance lobby, as are accessible offices for the mayor and council members. Space for municipal court operations and staff are on the right, and administrative offices for the finance director and water department are on the left.

The police department and a sallyport are at the end of the court wing and the water department’s bill-paying area is at the end of the administrative wing.

A motion by Councilman T. Gerald Lee to accept the project with the scaled-down costs died for lack of a second. Washington then moved to use the reduced price plan but to require a detailed costs estimate and a detailed construction schedule. This motion passed 3-1 with Councilwoman Melice Gerace voting no.

Midway is still seeking a city attorney and that item will appear yet again on the agenda for the city council’s work session March 26.

Councilmembers Lee and Washington are working on the Midway Day festival and the Miss Midway Pageant held in connection with the festival.

The Midway Day festival will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 21 at the East Liberty Community Complex. There is yet no confirmed date for the pageant which will be after Midway Day.

Midway will be getting new LED streetlights, following council action Monday. The timing of the installation is not yet set.

The council approved a business license for Media Plumbing and Heating. The council allowed Valya Lee to move her home business to a commercial site at 150 Butler St. The business, Soror Finds, sells fashion items and accessories. Councilman Lee did not vote on the issue; his wife owns the business.

Parker can be contacted by email at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.

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