New Madrid City Council hears proposal for new city hall

The proposed city hall will be situated on a lot at the corner of Main and Mill Street. The architects have proposed a design the recalls some of the historic design of buildings from Main Street's past while keeping a modern look to the building.

NEW MADRID, Mo. — The New Madrid City Council got its first look at drawings of a new city hall during their Sept. 9 meeting.

Members of the architecture firm Dille and Pollard of Cape Girardeau presented their concept drawings for the interior and exterior of the building which would be built on city-owned lots at the corner of Main and Mill streets. The lots were the former site of the Shainberg Building, which most recently housed Wagley’s Appliance Store, and the Dawson Grocery Store.

City Administrator Aaron Griffin praised the firm, noting he has worked with them for over a year on the project.

Brian Balsmann, project architect with Dille and Pollard, points out some of the features of the interior design of a proposed new City Hall during the Sept. 9 City Council meeting. The gave the nod to move ahead with the design and begin determining a budget and cost estimates. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

“They have been fantastic to work with. They have really done a lot of good research,” Griffin said.

Brian Balsmann, the project architect, spoke to the Council about their research, noting working with Griffin they reviewed numerous old photos of Main Street.

“We tried to mimic some of the old architecture on Main Street. We want it to stand out but not to be out of place,” he said.

The architects with Dille and Pollard proposed an interior design that combines both the town's history and a modern look for the lobby area. A door from the lobby will lead into the City Council room.

The 6,242-square-foot brick building will sit back from Main Street providing green space, landscaping and a fountain at the front. The masonry details across the top will be similar to the banding of the former Dawson’s Grocery and the windows will also reflect a style similar to that building, he said.

According to Balmann, the design utilizes the alley between the proposed city hall and the Post Office to bring cars into a drive-through canopy where citizens can pay their utility bills without getting out of their cars. The architect also incorporated off-street parking for the staff, a back entrance leading into the City Council room and a night-drop box.

The interior will include a lobby area, service counter, the City Council chambers, administration rooms, a break room and a mechanical room. Also included were several things the current city hall doesn’t have such as a conference room which could be used by civic groups, public restrooms, file storage area, a room for information technology and rooms for three future offices if needed.

The proposed site for New Madrid's new city hall is on the lot at the corner of Main and Mill streets. Soil testing will be conducted to determine if the location is suitable for the building prior to construction.

The interior will utilize brick similar to that on the outside. Also several large graphics are planned on the interior.

Griffin noted the Council Room will by more IT friendly with computer monitors and a microphone for each council member and the mayor. Also he said there will be television monitors facing the audience.

Griffin said while the new building is smaller than the current city hall it will offer a better workflow design and more storage options.

Council members (from left) G.L. Keene, Tommy Chism, Mayor Nick White, Derek Lawfield, Jim Cravens and Jim Henderson watch the monitor displaying the proposed new City Hall in New Madrid.

The next step is to put together a budget and cost estimates, Griffin said. The land will be surveyed and the soil tested. Once those are completed, bids for construction will be sought.

He said it is hoped the building will be completed in 2025.

As Balsmann concluded his presentation, the Council expressed their support of the proposed plans.

The architects at Dille and Pollard have proposed having a drive-through area at the back of the new City Hall where residents will be able to drive through to pay their utility bills.

“We look forward to revitalizing downtown,” Mayor Nick White said about the project.

Also the company unveiled a new logo they had created while working with Griffin on the building proposal.

The new logo features the words “Where The River Bends And Community Begins.” Also it includes three stars for the three different countries, Spain, France and the United States, linked to the town’s history.

Aaron Griffin, city manager, explains the thought behind a new logo for New Madrid. The logo includes the words: Where the River Bends and Community Begins." (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

The only item listed on the Council’s Sept. 9 agenda was the authorization of the mayor to sign a contract for the sale of real estate.

Approval was given for the sale of a house on Brush Prairie. According to Griffin the house is being purchased by people from Arkansas. The city still has one house available for purchase on Hunter Street.

In his city administrator’s report to the Council, Griffin said he has heard from an official with the Department of Natural Resources about grant funding to pay for the connection that will enable New Madrid to provide water to Lilbourn. He said there is still some paperwork to complete but once funding is received the project will go out to bid.

Bids for the paving of city streets were due Sept. 10. Griffin said at the next Council meeting, the bids will be available for the Council’s review. Approximately a dozen streets are included in the paving project with improvements to be made throughout the community, he said.

The city administrator also noted he will meet with a Federal Emergency Management Agency representative Sept. 23 about the May 26 storm damage.