With three options for expanding city hall and DPW, Clarkston City Council postponed a decision until at least this coming Monday.
“I don’t see how two weeks can hurt,” said Council member Al Avery at the Oct. 12 meeting. “I’d like to hear what residents say their needs are.”
The three alternatives presented include “North Side Option One,” adding a new building onto city hall, taking up about eight parking spots. It would be a 1,925-square-foot, four-bay garage to hold 90 percent of the DPW’s equipment. The project would also include interior renovations of existing city hall and DPW garage, adding office and meeting space and removing one garage bay. Cost would be $378,912.
“North Side Option Four” includes a 2,049-square-foot, three-bay extension to city hall, interior renovations of 1,754-square-feet of the existing city hall, and expanded DPW parking, for $402,035.
“North Side Option Five” includes a 2,049-square-foot addition, interior renovation of 743-square-feet of city hall, and expanded DPW parking, $347,785.
The council was asked to pick an option, which would be presented to contractors for bid, but voted 4-1 to postpone the decision.
Avery, council members Sharron Catallo and Mike Sabol, and Mayor Joe Luginski voted for postponement. Council member Tom Hunter, who voted against, said they’ve talked enough.
“We’ve been working on this since 2012,” Hunter said. “All they want to do is pick an alternative. We’re not committing ourselves to anything. I’d rather go forward.”
The city pays about $25,000 a year to lease 3 E. Church, where it currently stores most of its DPW equipment. The building, which was sold to Union Joints for development into a new restaurant, must be vacated by Nov. 1.
Steve Wylie, former council member speaking as a member of the public, said the city considered a $200,000 expansion project in 2012 when it had a $322,000 rainy day fund, but it was voted down.
“Now you’re looking at a $400,000 project and the rainy day fund will be $120,000 by the end of 2016,” Wylie said. “We have less money, and we’re talking about something more expensive.”
He and other residents concerned about the project collected 120 signatures against it over the summer.
“I think the majority of Clarkston citizens don’t want anything this expensive,” Wylie said.
Luginski said he wasn’t in favor of the most expensive option.”I don’t want to spend that money either,” he said.
In 2012, the city had more money in its general fund, but equipment costs including trucks and road issues were coming up and the tax base was going down because of the economy, the mayor said.
“Now the tax base is going up,” he said. “Circumstances are different now.”
Something needs to be done to expand city hall, Catallo said.
“This place is full,” she said.
Clarkston Board of Education approved the lease of an 800-square-foot bus garage bay for city DPW equipment storage at its Oct. 12 meeting. The lease is for $240 a month.
City Council next meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, at City Hall in Depot Park.