Chillicothe — The president of city council wants to move towards a resolution about the two city office buildings on South Paint Street, and has announced a meeting on that soon.
In Chillicothe Council on Monday evening, Council President Kevin Shoemaker called a review meeting for the city facilities committee – which is the entire council.
Shoemaker announced it for 5pm June 22nd, two hours before the council session on that day. He said the time frame is to give plenty of opportunity to talk about the issue, and he said the public is welcome.
The city has been working on consolidating facilities such as electrical, water, and street departments in the former Pepsi Warehouse at 400 East 7th Street.
Now, Shoemaker wants to focus on the administration building at 35 South Paint Street, and the largely vacant and ailing former City Hall at 26 – whether to upgrade, or replace. He said the city needs offices that the public can be proud of…and also be able to access.
Earlier, he had admitted that he favors the former Gazette Building at 50 West Main Street, which remains for sale. If the city can use it, he sees it as part of the continuing renewal of the downtown. He spoke with me in a former printing press room in January, which he said would make a nice council chambers.
Shoemaker says that as council president he does not have a vote in the decision…but he can push council to finally take action.
“I’d like for us to start to start towards making selections rather than keep identifying the problem – I think we know what the problems are.”
