Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.
The long-awaited move into Henderson's $41.8 million City Hall addition is just weeks away.
The first group of city employees, which includes the offices of the city attorney, city manager and mayor, will have their boxes and files moved out of their existing cramped quarters on Dec. 12 and will unpack in their new offices the following Monday, City Manager Phil Speight said Tuesday.
More city departments will move into the new 220,000-square-foot building beginning Dec. 19, and Jan. 2, with the last group emptying the current City Hall beginning Jan. 9.
Mayor Jim Gibson said the pending move is exciting and will put city departments in one place.
"This will make government more accessible, give us one-stop shopping in a way. But it will be awhile before that is the case," Gibson said.
After city departments empty the existing City Hall, that building will be renovated and then the departments will move into their permanent locations. Until then some departments will remain in the nearby temporary buildings and trailers they have been in for years.
Construction began in January 2002, and general contractor Dick Corp. of Pittsburgh has until next September to finish the project. After the addition is built, Dick Corp. still has the $1.6 million renovation of the existing City Hall to do, but that is expected to take about seven months.
The new five-story addition to City Hall is the biggest piece of Henderson's $72.3 million City Hall expansion project, which also includes the renovation, plus new furniture and equipment.
The addition and renovated building will have office space for 725 employees. The existing City Hall was designed for up to 193 employees, but now has an additional 300 in the building.
During the renovations, City Council meetings will be held at the Henderson Convention Center.
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