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Work on new Tonganoxie City Hall starting on Fourth Street

By Shawn Linenberger - | May 10, 2016

The ruckus that folks in the downtown area might be hearing can be attributed to the new Tonganoxie City Hall.

Crews started last week on the new City Hall, which will be in the 500 block of Fourth Street. It’s in the former Tan Time. Before that, it was the longtime Tonganoxie Post Office.

Plumbing work has started, as a trench has been created from east to west in the middle of the building. Public restrooms and a kitchen area are planned for portions of that side of the building.

The more than 2,000-square-foot building will have a lobby area, four offices, a conference room and a break room.

Jamie Shockley, assistant city manager, said the project should be completed the week of Aug. 29, though she said a number of issues can come up and could push that date back.

The city also is doing similar work on the former Cornerstone Family Worship at Sixth and Church streets. The city has purchased that building to house a new Tonganoxie Police Department. Like the former post office, the main area of the church has been gutted. More on that project can be found in an upcoming edition of The Mirror.

Shockley said the outdoor facade would be cleaned up and some “dimension lettering” would be added, along with some sidewalk improvement, but the project’s main focus is the interior.

Power washing started Monday on the exterior.

Benjamin Cunningham, superintendent with The Osborne Company, said power washing would be taking place from roughly 8 a.m-4 p.m. during the coming days, with a midday break from roughly 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Power washing also will be done to the west side of the building.

Pedestrians will still be able to use the sidewalk, but a portion of it will be roped off for the power washing.

When finished, the new City Hall will have a kiosk available for various forms, to pay water bills electronically and provide job applications.

A display television also will be placed in the reception area with announcements and news about current city issue and happenings.

Customers also can get assistance from city staff, but the kiosk should help alleviate any lines waiting to be served.

“Those are features we’re excited about that we think our residents will enjoy,” Shockley said.

Meetings still will take place in City Council Chambers at 321 Delaware. The current City Hall, which is more than 100 years old, will be used for various things until a permanent plan on the building is implemented.

“It will remain the city’s property for now,” Shockley said. “We’re discussing a lot of different options. For now, it will continue to be a meeting space for executive session. The judge (William Pray) can use it during municipal court.

“It will be city property until a decision is made about what to do with it.”