Scaled-back construction plans for renovation of Marietta's National Guard Armory could be ready by next week for city council's approval to advertise for bids on the project.
City engineer Joe Tucker told council's lands, buildings and parks committee Tuesday that approximately $80,000 would have to be appropriated from the Gutberlet Armory Trust Fund for engineering and construction administration fees required to proceed with the project.
"We're on a very aggressive timeline and a week from today I hope to bring you the final costs and specifications needed to go out for bids," Tucker told the committee members.
He said the revamped construction plans would allow complete renovation of the armory building's exterior, including new roofing, elevator installation, new doors and windows, lead paint abatement and new front steps.
"There will be very little interior work during this first phase of construction," Tucker said.
Last week the city administration proposed breaking the armory renovation project into phases, using grant funds and other money currently in hand to pay for the first phase. Mayor Joe Matthews said the second phase of the project-the interior of the building- could be completed as funding becomes available.
Fact Box
What's next
Marietta City Council's streets and transportation committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. today in the second floor conference room at 304 Putnam St. All council and committee meetings, except executive sessions, are open to the public.
City law director Paul Bertram III said his office would work diligently to develop the necessary legislation requested by Tucker in time for council's consideration during a special session scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.
In other business, Tucker said Davis Pickering Architects had met with all departments that could potentially have offices located in city hall at 301 Putnam St. once the municipal court and related offices move to the new court location later this year.
Lands, buildings and parks committee chairman Harley Noland, D-at large, asked the committee members to determine some goals for the project.
The first would be to vacate offices currently located at 308 Putnam St. (auditor, treasurer, council clerk and information technology) and sell that building.
The second goal is to move the city police department offices currently located in the basement of city hall to the second floor of that building.
And a third goal is to provide space at 301 Putnam St. for a multi-purpose council chambers and meeting room.
"We need to stop being nomads," Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward, said of council's current practice of holding committee meetings at 304 Putnam St. and regular council sessions at Lookout Park.
Tucker said determining which offices are to be located in the renovated city hall building and how much space each office requires is the main concern at this time, so the architect can establish a preliminary design.
Also on Tuesday, Rob Reiter with the Southeast Ohio Waste Management Authority, requested $2,500 from the city to help cover costs of this year's Household Hazardous Waste Day.
He said the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 14 at the Solvay Employee Park off Ohio 7 just below Moore's Junction, and will include a paint swap, but there will be no tire collection this year.
The last household hazardous waste and paint swap day was held in 2010. Reiter said due to limited resources the event could not be held in 2011.
Members of the water, sewer and sanitation committee agreed to appropriate the $2,500 from the city's sewer fund.
Reiter said he's also seeking similar funding from the city of Belpre to help pay for the event.
