City ready to close on new City Hall

The City of Fort Scott is one step closer to moving City Hall into its new location.

According to Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner, the city will be closing on the building located at 123 S. Main Street at 1 p.m. today to make the purchase official.

Some minor work will need to be completed before the offices are moved over. Turner said the next step in the process is for the department heads, city officials, and project designers to sit down and design the project. After the designs are completed, the project will then need to go to bid.

"We don't have a definite timetable to start construction," Turner said. "That time frame could last two, maybe three months."

The city's offer was not the only offer presented. According to Crystal Mason, the agent listing the building, a back-up offer was made if the city's $150,000 offer was not approved by the commission. Turner said the city was aware of the second offer and chose not to withdraw its offer.

Citizens at a previous meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission expressed concern about keeping the commission meetings and the municipal court in Memorial Hall which will remain inaccessible to the handicapped.

Turner said that he couldn't see any downside to moving to the new location.

"I couldn't see any downside, it accommodates everything we want to do," he said.

Despite having the court and commission in Memorial Hall, Turner said he still expects to see a savings in the building's utility costs. The heating and cooling system is capable of being shut off in unused rooms, he said, which should lead to a savings.

In addition, not having the building occupied daily, the temperature can be kept at a level which would be more moderate.

"We won't have to heat the building completely, or air condition it, all year around," Turner said. "We'll be able to keep the temperatures at a more moderate level."

Other organizations which occupy the building, such as the Genealogical Society, the American Legion, and the Fort Scott Jamboree will be able to remain in their current locations.

"They are very important to the city," Turner said.

The future of the building is still not yet determined. Turner said the city will continue looking for a tenant for the unused space. Improvements to the building will still need to be made and the city currently does not have a plan to fix them. The city will continue to use the building for storage.

"We haven't got that far yet," Turner said. "We'll still use some of it for storage of files."

Following significant cuts to the city's budget, Turner said the city's cash carryover was more than expected. This greater carryover put the city in a position to make the purchase.

"This was an opportunity that we couldn't pass up," he said. "Financially, it was a good decision for the commission to make."