City of Red Bay breaks ground on new city hall

By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
RED BAY – Wednesday, it was just a flat, muddy lot. But by the end of June 2007, it's going to be Red Bay's new city hall.
City officials are expecting to be in the new city hall no later than July 1, 2007. The 4,200 square foot building will house offices for the mayor, city clerk, revenue officer, court clerk, and city judge as well as a courtroom, and meeting rooms, Mayor Jeff Reid said.
"I expect to be in the new building ahead of schedule," Reid said.
Contractor Tim Burton of Burton Builders said he expected construction to take about six month. Burton will begin site preparations Tuesday, Jan. 2.
"They couldn't have picked a better place," Burton said. "right hear in the middle of town."
Reid agreed saying that the new site's close proximity to the city fire department, water and gas board and easy access to downtown, made the land very attractive.
"It's all right here," he said. "It convenient for us and it's convenient for the people who need to do business with the town."
Construction crews were on the site Tuesday, Dec. 27 tearing up the pavement where the old gas station stood. The lot has been vacant for many years. The lot is between Tom Jones Insurance and Financial Services and Alabama Title Pawn.
"It only took them three to four hours to get the cement up," Reid said.
The city purchased the property for $80,000 and council members accepted a low bid of $534,700 for the construction of the new municipal building.
The city secured a $150,000 grant that, coupled with insurance money, will keep the city from having to borrow money for the work.
The only cost the city will incur is for the purchase of the property.
Red Bay also has plans to build a new police department at the site of their old city hall, which burned down last May when a squirrel blew a transformer causing the fire, Reid said.
Bids for the police department are scheduled to be opened January 24, 2007.