March 24, 2022 at 1:23 p.m.
Newbold town board holds special meeting to discuss building plans
Newbold town board holds special meeting to discuss building plans
By Trevor Greene-
The board has been meeting in the neighboring fire station because the original town hall's failing infrastructure resulted in excess amounts of toxic mold, which in the past, according to some board members, caused illness in two people.
Between $1.4 and $1.5 million is the price range for a new building and approval will be sought as part of the town's annual meeting on April 19.
Town funds between $200,000 and $250,000 are planned to be used, as well as roughly $284,000 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
At a town board meeting on March 10, town supervisor Dan Hess suggested using roughly $30,000 that was "freed up" from paying off the loan for work on the town's fire station. At the March 17 meeting, he changed his mind, saying improvements to the town shop will need to be considered in the future.
Town treasurer Jodie Hess gave town board members an idea of how property taxpayers would be impacted if the electors approve construction of a new building.
With a $1.1 million price tag for the project, the annual property tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home would increase by $14.39, she said. At $1.2 million, it would be an increase of $15.69 for a $1.3 million project, it would increase to $17 annually.
The tax increase isn't the reason some board members believe electors may disapprove the new town hall proposal. Some expressed concern that not everyone has a clear understanding of what a town hall offers. Construction manager Devin Flanigan with Appleton-based Keller Inc. said he doesn't think people will vote against the project because of the minimal tax increase and agreed it will likely come down to educating the voters as to the need for the project.
Flanigan read a revised list of goals during the special meeting that included:
• Building a town hall lasting at least 50 years with current town population in mind.
• A building featuring safety measures for the clerk and treasurer, documents and funds.
• A secure fire-rated storage area for town records.
• A room for the town board to conduct closed sessions to allow the public to stay in the meeting room.
• Ensure the public there is a sanitary facility for meetings, voting and town functions.
• A meeting space for at least 125 people.
• Accessible voting space for 2,000 voters.
• Adequate parking for town functions.
• A safe facility with access to the town park.
• A facility to act as a location for emergencies.
Town clerk Kim Gauthier said in her visits with town residents, some were unaware as to which building the town hall even was.
Additional mailers as well as emails and notices published in local newspapers, were suggestions mentioned to help get the word out to the public.
Timeline
Flanigan shared with the town board a possible timeline for the project,if approved by voters. That timeline would have construction documents to be completed by July, bids received by September, and a ground-breaking in October. The goal would be to try to get the footings and foundation in before winter and complete construction in March 2023.
"Building construction in the winter just costs money," Flanigan said. "So if we can just try to avoid that, at all costs, that's what I'd prefer."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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