Council votes to build new city hall

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
The Russellville City Council voted to move forward with the construction of a new city hall building during a special called meeting Thursday.
The council approved a $68,000 contract with Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood for engineering services on a new city hall building.
The council has bought almost two acres of land across from the post office on Jackson Avenue.
The city purchased the land from Community Spirit Bank.
The new facility will be about 5,400 square feet.
City Councilman Craig Grissom said the city outgrew the current building which was built in 1967.
"After we got the court system going there is just not enough room," Grissom said.
The current city hall building will be used by the police department. The city jail is already in a section of that building.
"We will keep all of the court system here," Councilman Burns Saint said.
The city also has plans to move the street department to the old National Guard armory, which was deeded back to the city after the government moved operations to Haleyville.
The new facility will be similar to the one built in Red Bay last year.
Preliminary drawings show the building with a large front porch and should blend with other downtown buildings.
It will have a conference room, meeting room and several offices.
"Each department should be in a good building when we are finished," Grissom said.