City administration moving back to Highland City Hall after a year of flood repairs
City operations are moving back into Highland’s City Hall after more than a year of renovations following a catastrophic flood.
The city announced last week that operations would be temporarily suspended over the weekend to move operations back into 1115 Broadway. This abdicates the temporary facilities that city workers have been using since a broken pipe soaked a large portion of City Hall in December 2022, requiring significant repairs and renovations.
This doesn’t end the renovations, however. It just moves operations back into the building, according to City Manager Chris Conrad. There is still glass work to be done, which Conrad said was delayed due to supply chain issues. But the glasswork will be done later on a Saturday so as to not interfere with city operations.
The next step, Conrad said, is to clear out the city council chambers to begin that renovation. It was not part of the original contract, but the room needed an upgrade especially for acoustics.
The burst pipe took place during a severe cold snap during the holidays, and there was a lengthy delay before a response company could bring in industrial dryers. At least half of the building’s interior required demolition, and city leaders opted to make some improvements and modifications that had long been planned. That included the renovation of the council chambers with a new sound system and replacing the 40-year-old roof.
Over the last year and a half, the walls and drywall have been replaced and the new heating and air conditioning system installed, as well as a new back parking lot with a better drive-up night drop. The renovation contractor was Korte Luitjohan for a total of $1.3 million, which did not include the council chambers or furniture purchased through a state joint purchasing contract list.
The total cost has not been calculated yet as there are still some change orders and credits pending, Conrad said.
“But we are currently still on budget and have not exceeded the contract price,” he said. “[We’re] very pleased with that as we have run into several unknown issues, like rotted wood on the exterior of the building, that have been corrected as well.”
City operations reopened at City Hall on Monday.
