Rome to move ahead with city hall improvements including new windows, fixing leaks
Rome’s Common Council unanimously voted Wednesday to move ahead with bonding for $900,000, which includes three projects related to renovations at city hall, projects the city has gone back and forth on how to fund.
The building’s problems were part of the city’s 2017 Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Officials also recently discussed possibly using some of the city’s $25 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the renovations.
The council had initially tabled the bonding at its last meeting in April.
Rome City Hall is facing several issues, including the need for new windows and fixes for leaks, roof issues, electrical problems and ventilation problems.
The bonding does not address all those issues.
Fifth Ward Councilor Frank Anderson asked for the tabling of the ordinance. The council needed more time to conduct due diligence, he said at the time.
On Wednesday, Anderson said all of his questions had been answered.
“This is the end of the bonding cycle for 2022,” Anderson said, shortly before the council voted in favor of the bonding.
A look at Rome City Hall renovations
The $900,000 in bonding covers four projects, three of which concern city hall.
The city hall projects listed, according to meeting documentation, are window replacement ($50,000), elevator renovation ($200,000) and HVAC upgrades ($450,000).
The other proposed project, boiler replacement at the public works garage, is slated for $200,000.
Rome Mayor Jacqueline Izzo has said the required HVAC work is outside the scope of the DRI project. Izzo further stated the HVAC system is over 50 years old and requires repairs for better energy efficiency.
“Because these repairs are time sensitive, we are choosing to bond, but we are still researching whether other sources of funding may be applicable,” Izzo said in a recent statement to the Observer-Dispatch “If we determine that these repairs qualify for a different funding source, then we will have the opportunity to apply those funds at a later time to the bond.”
As far as ARPA funding, the city has already allocated $2 million to the Rome Fire Department for the purchase of two new fire trucks and $343,500 to design and plan a new water plan for the Woodhaven site.
Ed Harris is the Oneida County reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Ed Harris at EHarris1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Rome City Hall moves ahead with bonding for city hall renovations
