Town of Murray studies new building options

Town of Murray officials are still continuing their quest for new office space for its offices, Supervisor Henry Lehning said.

The proposal for the construction of a 6,000 square foot town office building will be brought before the board at a December meeting, Lehning said. The reason for the proposal, he said, is that the present space is cramped and upgraded facilities are needed.

Last year, voters twice vetoed town officials' proposals for the construction of a building on town-owned property, saying new office space wasn't necessary. The present town hall only holds 42 people and some times, on court nights, Lehning said, the building is filled to capacity and there is no conference room for an attorney who needs to confer with a client. Additionally, the town assessor's office is on the second floor, rendering it inaccessible for some residents.

A low interest loan in the amount of $775,000 was approved by Rural Development in 2001 for the town's construction of the building. Lehning said officials are still looking to construct the building with a price tag of $500,000.

Also in question are the building's restroom facilities. Presently, they are not handicapped accessible. Making them comply with federal regulations would require knocking down the cement walls in the building in order to expand the facilities.

The site of the new building would be across the road from the present location. Lehning said officials are looking to construct a 6,000 square foot town hall. It would be constructed with moveable interior walls to provide for future expansion needs, he said.

The highway department would continue to utilize the existing building. While no final figures are available, Lehning said if the town goes with a 30-year-bond and utilizes some of their own money, it is hoped the tax implications would be minimal. "It really is too soon to come up with final numbers," he said.