Town Hall fix eclipses seven digits

Options include building a new facility or downsizing or upgrading the current one
By 
MICHAEL BABCOCK
Ozaukee Press staff

The list of issues with the 1940s school building that serves as the Saukville Town Hall is long — a deteriorating roof, outdated heating system,  soon-to-fail septic system, inefficient light fixtures and an interior and exterior in need of repair.

Whether the town tears down, downsizes or upgrades the hall, the price tag will eclipse $1 million, architect Kriss Dressler of Cedar Corp. told the Town Board Tuesday.

“This is big stuff. A million bucks in the Town of Saukville is a big deal,” Town Chairman Kevin Kimmes said.

It would cost the town roughly $1.33 million to replace the building’s outdated and failing utility systems, bring it into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act standards and repair the interior and exterior, including the windows and roof, Dressler said.

Doing so could reduce utility costs from an average of $12,500 annually to about $9,500 due to increased efficiency, he said.

“That’s not a large number annually, but it adds up quick,” he said.

Another option would be to cut down on unnecessary maintenance by demolishing the “underutilized rooms” on the building’s south side, Dressler said.

A modern town hall has a lobby, boardroom, conference room, bathrooms and storage, all of which could fit in less than 3,000 square feet, Dressler said, but the Saukville Town Hall is almost 8,500 square feet.

“It’s a large building with very little use,” he said.

Most of the extra square footage is used for storage, including the former teachers office and the old town office, while the former gym area has become a general purpose room, he said.

Dressler said the general purpose room has seen “very limited use” as a rental space and election hall.

Instead of the gym, a redesigned boardroom could host elections, he said.

Demolishing the south-side of the hall and making necessary upgrades would cost an estimated $1.07 million, not including the potential cost of evaluating and mitigating hazardous materials, Dressler said.

To make the cost palatable, he said, the town could prioritize essential renovations such as the roof and heating system while delaying others.

The third option, Dressler said, would be to sell or demolish the building and construct a new town hall.

Including “high level” budget estimates of $50,000 for site development, $40,000 for furnishing, $750,000 for construction and other costs, the 3,000-square-foot building would cost the town $1.21 million.

The location for the town hall has not been determined.

Dressler said there could be many funding options to offset the steep price, including using soon-to-expire American Rescue Plan Act funds, selling the current town hall and seeking a Wisconsin Innovation or Flexible Facilities Program grant.

Whatever the town does, Kimmes said, it “won’t act quickly.”

The board will discuss the topic at its next meeting, he said, adding he would like it brought to the annual meeting to ensure resident interaction.

As repairs and upgrades become more necessary, Kimmes said, the question becomes when to draw the line on maintaining failing systems.

“Does it make sense to keep pouring money into this facility?” he asked.

Category:

Feedback:

Click Here to Send a Letter to the Editor

Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

125 E. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-3494
 

CONNECT


User login