Exeter City Hall to be moved next door
April 10, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
Big changes are coming to the City of Exeter, and not just with its newly elected city council members. In a special session city council meeting on March 27, Exeter Council voted to enter into a lease-to-own agreement to move city hall offices to the building next door.
Council members toured the building at the regular March meeting, tabling the discussion until they could gain more information. Council members Rhonda Scott, who has been serving as mayor pro tem for about a year, Tasha McNabb, Cotton Reed and Tyler Henderson all voted in favor of entering the lease agreement with Thomas (Rob) Sorensen.
Reed and Henderson were appointed to vacant city council member seats during the regular February meeting and a special February meeting, respectively.
Council members agreed to making a down payment of $5,000 from two different city bank accounts going toward the total cost of the building agreed upon at $85,000. Rent payments on the building will be $907 each month.
The option of lease-to-own makes the process faster and less complicated. According to city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, “Cities cannot take out a loan for more than a year without going out for a vote of the people. That’s why we’re doing this.”
While touring the building at 118 Front Street during the regular meeting, members noted there would be little need for renovations aside from adding a small kitchen area and smaller projects to move city hall offices.
Marissa Robbins, Exeter’s court clerk and treasurer, said the work should cost less than $1,000 in all. She said, “We need to enclose the front office and build a little kitchen area with a sink and microwave and hot plate. The back room also needs to be set up for court and council meetings.”
Most work will be completed by city employees, including building a handicapped ramp. Eisenbraun said the only possible hired work would be plumbing, if needed.
The decision to move city hall was made after a bid was received putting the cost at repairing the current location at over $100,000 minimum. Foundation issues made the repairs not financially feasible for the city given the value of the property as is.
During the special session, the city council also approved an ordinance accepting a City of Exeter Policy. Court clerk Marissa Robbins told the council the policy was drafted using Missouri State Statutes during the regular meeting, and it was proposed to accept it as an ordinance as they are more difficult to change. Robbins’ explained to council members the policy construction using exact state statutes was suggested by newly hired city attorney Blake Fields.
An decision will be made regarding the current city hall meeting at a later date
Charlea Estes-Jones
Big changes are coming to the City of Exeter, and not just with its newly elected city council members. In a special session city council meeting on March 27, Exeter Council voted to enter into a lease-to-own agreement to move city hall offices to the building next door.
Council members toured the building at the regular March meeting, tabling the discussion until they could gain more information. Council members Rhonda Scott, who has been serving as mayor pro tem for about a year, Tasha McNabb, Cotton Reed and Tyler Henderson all voted in favor of entering the lease agreement with Thomas (Rob) Sorensen.
Reed and Henderson were appointed to vacant city council member seats during the regular February meeting and a special February meeting, respectively.
Council members agreed to making a down payment of $5,000 from two different city bank accounts going toward the total cost of the building agreed upon at $85,000. Rent payments on the building will be $907 each month.
The option of lease-to-own makes the process faster and less complicated. According to city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, “Cities cannot take out a loan for more than a year without going out for a vote of the people. That’s why we’re doing this.”
While touring the building at 118 Front Street during the regular meeting, members noted there would be little need for renovations aside from adding a small kitchen area and smaller projects to move city hall offices.
Marissa Robbins, Exeter’s court clerk and treasurer, said the work should cost less than $1,000 in all. She said, “We need to enclose the front office and build a little kitchen area with a sink and microwave and hot plate. The back room also needs to be set up for court and council meetings.”
Most work will be completed by city employees, including building a handicapped ramp. Eisenbraun said the only possible hired work would be plumbing, if needed.
The decision to move city hall was made after a bid was received putting the cost at repairing the current location at over $100,000 minimum. Foundation issues made the repairs not financially feasible for the city given the value of the property as is.
During the special session, the city council also approved an ordinance accepting a City of Exeter Policy. Court clerk Marissa Robbins told the council the policy was drafted using Missouri State Statutes during the regular meeting, and it was proposed to accept it as an ordinance as they are more difficult to change. Robbins’ explained to council members the policy construction using exact state statutes was suggested by newly hired city attorney Blake Fields.
An decision will be made regarding the current city hall meeting at a later date
