Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the projected cost of the project. The correct projected cost for the project is between $7,000-$8,000. This version has been updated to include the correct cost of the project as provided by the Lexington City Council’s Office.
Lexington City Hall will make a short move into a newly remodeled building early next month.
The new location, previously used as a probation office, was donated to the city by the Oglethorpe County government and is on the other side of the old jail from the current city hall at 223 Main St.
The current city hall, which doubles as a storage place for the water department’s tractor and fixtures, has been short on space for years.
The water department’s equipment is expected to remain in the current city hall, allowing the city clerk, city council and mayor to move into the remodeled building.
“It’s going to give the water department a way to space out a little bit, because they’re crammed over in storage,” said Kim Bradford, Lexington’s city clerk.
The city had originally planned to remodel the existing city hall, a plan that called for extensive renovations to the building. Lexington city councilman Ronnie Boggs said the projected cost for this renovation is between $7,000-$8,000.
“We were initially talking about redoing the whole building for the city hall,” he said.
The newly remodeled city hall building includes a parking area, new shingles, an updated bathroom, new carpet, a new heating and air conditioning system and fresh paint.
Boggs stressed the importance of ensuring that the project cost as little as possible to ensure the residents of Lexington weren’t impacted when it came to the expense.
Boggs and Lexington Mayor Craig Snow even painted the offices in the new location.
“When I bought the carpet to redo the clerk’s office, I was able to have enough carpet to go ahead and do the transition area between the doorway where you walk in and where you get to the bathroom,” Boggs said.
The paint for the project was also used for the city clerk’s office, in addition to the outside walkway handrails and the entrance door. The cost of the paint was approximately $50.
A new HVAC unit, which cost $5,725, freed up storage space.
“The installation of the heating and air included removing the whole heating air conditioning equipment that was broken down,” Boggs said. “That allowed us to free up another closet for storage.”