The city building in downtown Martins Ferry is fixed, albeit temporarily.
Mayor John Davies was atop the roof Wednesday afternoon as workers were tasked with securing roofing with treated lumber. The fix will prevent leakage and also keep sections of brick and molding from tumbling to the sidewalk below.
“Hopefully this will last till spring,” Davies said of the temporary solution. “We’re getting an estimate on a whole new roof. The guy is measuring that now and will provide us a price soon.”
Davies himself owns a background in construction. He’s guessing that the repair estimate will come in somewhere in the $30,000-40,000 range. The current roof is approximately 35 years old. He noted it’s never been replaced in the 20-some years he’s been involved with the city in some fashion.
The city building itself is 100-plus years old and continues to slowly show its age. Items need fixing and will continue to do. Council and city leaders previously mulled over the topic of potentially leasing or purchasing a new building to house city hall and all its offices and needs. There’s also the option of building a new structure.
None are cheap, and given the current financial climate all municipalities are facing because of the pandemic, now’s not the best time for major additional expenses.
“We’ve looked at several different options, but nothing is feasible right now,” Davies admitted. “The city’s funds aren’t the best in the world, and we have to do what is feasible and what is realistic.
“We have looked at several different options and different things we could do. A lot of that will have to do with Council.”
Available Options?
Davies noted the city explored three options on a preliminary basis. Call it a fact-finding dive if you will. But the city is doing its diligence to weigh potential costs and benefits of all moves.
First up was the building/property that encompasses the old Staffilino Chevrolet property overlooking Ohio 7. The former car dealership has sat vacant for a few years.
“There have also been talks about possibly moving the city building to the rec center and even possibly a new building on the current EMS property,” Davies said. “But for now, it’s just kind of exploratory.
“We’re checking on our options and funding. There’s a whole lot to it.”
There are both potential benefits and expenses associated with moving the entirety of the city’s offices, which includes more than the mayor’s office and city administrators.
The city building also includes the police department. The PD office has received numerous upgrades over the years, including ramping up the security for both the workers, and the evidence room. Any full move to a new location would need extensive upgrades to outfit a portion of the building for the PD.
Conversely, the current city building also houses Council chambers. Those chambers, while aesthetically pleasing, are located on the second floor of a building that was grandfathered in and did not have to fully meet ADA compliance. It does cause some accessibility issues.
A new building or move to a new location would likely mean a first-floor Council meeting room. That would allow residents/visitors with accessibility issues the opportunity to watch and participate in Council meetings, in person.
No matter what is ultimately decided, the decision will likely wait until the city’s coffers, which finished better than originally expected, improve.
