Varnell residents oppose moving city hall

By Kim Sloan
Dalton Daily Citizen

May 07, 2008 10:50 pm

— Varnell City Council has not publicly discussed plans to build a new city hall, but that didn’t keep a group of residents from coming to Tuesday’s work session and voicing their opposition to moving the facility.
Earlier this year, an air quality test was done at the current city hall, located on Main Street. The test revealed mildew, mold, asbestos and lead, said David Owens, Mayor Pro Tem.
“We’ve had a lot of complaints about the smell and odor in the facility we are in” Owens said. “We are getting information on how to rectify the problem and that’s what the council is looking at.”
Some residents in the crowd at Varnell’s work session on Tuesday shouted at council members, saying they don’t want City Hall moved from Main Street.
Mayor Lindsey Metcalf said before the meeting that it was “work session” and the public would be allowed to address council at the regular meeting next Tuesday. But that didn’t stop Wilma Morgan and others from commenting from the audience.
Morgan accused councilman Mark Fidler of “cutting me off every time I try to speak.”
Owens then said anyone who wants to speak at next Tuesday’s council meeting will be allotted five minutes.
Because of the problems with city hall, council has moved its meetings to the Varnell gym. Varnell residents will cast their votes at the gym in the July 15 primary and special election to fill Metcalf’s position. (Metcalf announced his “retirement” at Tuesday’s meeting.)
Owens said the council is considering temporarily putting a trailer to house city offices on city-owned land at the intersection of Wheat Drive and Cleveland Highway.
There is no plan to build a new City Hall there, Owens said.
Residents who attended Tuesday’s work session indicated they wanted the council members to focus on repairing problems with the current facility.
Owens said during the meeting that he had talked Tuesday afternoon with Gerald Combe, a Chattanooga-based contractor who was getting an estimate for the city. Owens said repairs could cost as much as $300,000. On Wednesday Combe disputed the amount, saying that his estimate was for approximately $158,000.
Owens said on Wednesday the $300,000 was a ballpark estimate he had come up with after walking around the building. Owens said before repairs can be made, council would have to receive two more estimates.
Council is expected to discuss City Hall when the council meets Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Varnell gym.