Newton City Hall is getting a much needed facelift.
At the May 7 meeting, the Board of Aldermen were informed that the city received a $1 million grant from the state to pay for necessary renovations, including replacement of the roof, repairs to the building’s foundation, making necessary safety upgrades and restoring the building to its original beauty.
Brad Carter of Carter Miller Associates, the architect for the renovation, said the building a treasure to the State of Mississippi.
“You have such a beautiful building, and I’m glad that we are getting a chance to preserve it and restore it,” Carter said at the May 21 board of aldermen meeting.
Carter said the first step in the renovation process will be to repair the roof and stop water leaks on the foundation to “dry out” the building. He said they are currently finalizing the specs for the project and will be ready to send out for bid in coming weeks.
The two projects will be bid out separately for the roof and the foundation.
Once that process is completed, they will also begin to address the building’s exits. Currently there is only one way in and one way out. The elevator access at the rear of the building doesn’t count as an emergency exit.
What Carter is proposing is to add an enclosed emergency staircase exit located next to the elevator, which was added long after the building was completed to make it ADA compliant. That would give the building two exits in case of an emergency.
In addition to that, they would then begin the process of repairing and restoring the interior of the building.
The total cost of the project is expected to be around $1.2 million, but the aldermen also approved apply for another $100,000 small municipal grant to supplement the funding for the project. The remainder of the funds would come from a bond issue, notice for which was approved at the May 2 meeting.
In other business, the board:
• Sent courtesy letters to 303 N. Newton Ave. to remove garbage and to 401 N. Newton Ave. for the repair or removal of a dilapidated structure.
• Appointed Michael Hillie and Eric McCalphia as voting delegates and Linda Wash as an alternate for the Mississippi Municipal League Conference.
• Closed City Hall for Memorial Day.
• Accepted the retirement of Doris McMillan effective June 30. Mayor Murray Weems also discussed the possibility of hiring McMillan on a part-time basis as needed, but no action was taken at this time.
• Discussed a vicious dog complaint at 517 E. Sixth St.
• Will get quotes for tree cutting on South Main Street, which are on city right of way.
• Agreed to place directional signs to Newton High School in town to help visitors find the school.
• Approved the purchase of a Blues Trail Marker at $3,318. This is a replacement marker that was damaged. All of the funding except the deductible was paid from city insurance.
• Accepted the resignation of Frankie McCollum effective May 31. He has been serving as Newton’s school resource officer for the last few years.
• Heard from City Attorney Brian Mayo about a potential development previously discussed in executive session. Nothing action was taken.
