City Council Briefs
Chamber seeks new offices at City Hall
The Olney Chamber of Commerce informed the City Council that it has moved out of the Main Street office it shared with the Olney Economic Development Corporation, and asked to use an unoccupied office at City Hall.
The Council asked for more information about what costs would be associated with the move, and how the Chamber would lock the sliding doors at City Hall after their monthly evening meetings.
“Right now, we share a building with the EDC and we know they’re going to start renovating and we just thought, We will be proactive in trying to find another location so we are not trying to backtrack,” Chamber President Tatum Wiley said.
The Chamber was looking at the two small offices in the front of City Hall, she said.
The Chamber has not held regular business hours since Chamber director Merissa Pink’s contract expired on Dec. 31 and was not renewed.
Assistant City Attorney Dan Branum, who also sits on the Chamber board, said the Chamber has no immediate plans to hire a new director or to hold office hours. Mr. Branum also said the Chamber is looking to buy or build a permanent location and would save the money it has been paying EDC for rent for that purpose. “This [arrangement] is an interim for a few years,” he said.
“I don’t see any negatives to it at all,” Mayor Rue Rogers said. “Maybe we need to sit down and map out some of the details.”
The Council asked the Chamber to bring them a detailed proposal, including a timeline for its proposed occupation of the office.
Council ponders repairs to sub-courthouse
The City Council discussed making repairs to the Sub-Courthouse on South Grand Avenue after public works reported another chunk of the facade has fallen off and may be endangering passersby. Public Works Director Michael Jacoba said he would try to get estimates for how to repair it or acquire scaffolding to place underneath it to protect pedestrians. County officials who have offices in the building have expressed concerns about its condition, Police Chief Dan Birbeck said.
The Council discussed the matter last year, after plaster decorations on the front of the building fell onto the sidewalk. At the time, City Administrator Arpegea Pagsuberon received a bid of more than $100,000 to complete the work but the Council took no action.
Mr. Jacoba said several window-mounted air conditioning units need to be replaced before summer. “My idea was for them to install minisplits,” he said. “They are more reliable, more durable and get those window units out of the windows. Last year, we had a lady hit her head on (one) and there was blood everywhere.”
Police Chief Dan Birbeck said County Judge Win Graham had discussed a joint project to place municipal and county offices all under one roof. City Secretary Tammy Hourigan said the last time the building was refurbished, the County paid for the upgrades and quit paying rent until it reimbursed itself.
Mayor Rogers, who also is acting City Administrator, said a Council committee would assess the building and come up with a long term plan. ‘`Do we invest money into it to rehab it or find somewhere else and partner with the County?” he said.