HUMBOLDT — If all goes well, Humboldt will move into its new city hall sometime in August, City Council members were told Monday.
Council members approved hiring Hofer and Hofer and Associates of Humboldt to renovate the old Emprise Bank building purchased by the city last year.
Hofer and Hofer’s bid of $139,990 was the lowest of eight received to reconfigure a number of ground floor rooms for city offices and the new home of the Humboldt Police Department and the installation of an elevator in order to make the basement handicap-accessible.
Because of the timeline necessary to install the elevator, work likely won’t begin until about May, explained architect Richard Zingre of Zingre and Associates of Fort Scott.
Zingre noted that Hofer and Hofer’s bid was below his estimates, which gives the city a bit more leeway in considering a pair of alternative projects, building accessible restrooms in the basement, upgrading the heating and air-conditioning units and constructing a courtroom on the ground floor.
Hofer and Hofer also had the lowest bid for the alternative projects at $73,330.
Council members weren’t ready to approve the alternate work.
“I cannot see adding another room that will be used two times a month,” Council member Don Walburn said, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Bob Sharp.
“I see no reason to spend this extra money in this economic climate,” Sharp said.
The sticking point for Council members is a potential $70,000 grant the city could receive from the United States Department of Agriculture, funds available only if the city spends $200,000 for the renovations.
As for the accessible restrooms, Sharp urged the city to negotiate a change order with Hofer and Hofer to add that portion to the base project.
The city also will look at replacing some carpeting.
Zingre estimated building restrooms in the basement and replacing the carpeting alone would cost about $30,000. He did not yet have estimates for upgrading the climate control system.
Both Zingre and Sharp lauded the Council’s choice to hire Hofer and Hofer.
“We’re spending our money locally,” Sharp said.
Zingre said his firm has worked with Hofer and Hofer extensively over the past 25 years, “and have always been satisfied with the quality of their work.”
