Council Approves City Hall 5-0

The Central City Council Tuesday night unanimously approved issuing a Conditional Use permit for the proposed $5 million Central City Hall, which will be located at the corner of Hooper and Sullivans roads. The permit opens the door for public bids to be solicited for the project by early fall.
The vote to issue the permit was 5-0 with Councilmen Jason Ellis, Shane Evans, Kim Fralick, Wayne Messina, and John Vance all voting yes. However, before the vote, the Council heard more than two hours of testimony, mostly from opponents.
Most opponents said they favored building a City Hall and many agreed with locating it at the corner of Hopper and Sullivans roads. However, they questioned the price tag of $5 million.
The hearing opened with a report by Councilman Jason Ellis who traced the history of the project from its origins in 2009. His detailed report explained the various committees and public hearings that were held over the past nine years.
Ellis analyzed the cost of the project and the various savings he said could result over the life of the building, which could be 50 years or more. He explained that without the City Hall, there would be no town center.
In the final analysis, Council members said years of study made it clear building a new City Hall like the one proposed would be a boon for Central’s future.