Visitors to Columbus City Hall can expect to see a new look inside as part of ongoing renovations that will continue into early 2018.
Contractors were hired to do painting and install new carpet in different city offices starting last month, said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development.
The upgrades will cost $177,281, with some of that money already budgeted this year through the city’s facilities fund, Ferdon said.
The city hired DJ Perry Decorating/Painting for about $48,000 to put a new coat of paint inside the building, which hasn’t been painted in about 20 years, Ferdon said. The paint’s color is remaining unchanged from apricot white to alabaster, a shade of white.
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“Whether it’s in your home or an office, you need to keep up with maintenance,” she said.
The carpet inside Columbus City Hall is getting upgraded for the first time in 14 years and will be changed from a peach appearance to multi-colors. The purchase of carpet and labor from Columbus Carpet throughout the building is costing $129,281, according to Ferdon.
She said city leaders decided to install new carpet in the building since it was becoming stained.
“We felt like it needed to be done,” Ferdon said. “Of course, a fresh coat of paint makes things feel better.”
A committee made up of Ferdon, city finance director Jamie Brinegar, facilities director Mike Pope, administrative assistant to the mayor Nancy Wagner and first lady Pam Lienhoop were responsible for choosing the paint and carpet colors.
Ferdon said that Pam Lienhoop, who is not a city employee, was asked to be on the committee “to have some outside perspective because she has excellent taste.”
Currently, the clerk-treasurer’s office is being renovated and has resulted in that office being temporarily moved to the Cal Brand meeting room. Signs are posted on the first floor of the building directing the public to the department’s temporary location, said Ferdon, who indicated painting work should be completed by the end of the year.
“We’ve had no disruption in service,” Ferdon said.
Once work is completed in the clerk-treasurer’s office, improvements will take place in the human resources department. From that point, upgrades will begin on the second floor of the building sometime after Jan. 1.
Ferdon said the new carpet being installed on the second floor could result in Columbus Board of Works meetings being moved to alternate locations since they are held in council chambers. Columbus City Council chambers are on the second floor, in addition to the city’s planning, engineering and community development offices.
Work will be adjusted to accommodate scheduled council meetings. The Cal Brand meeting room will be unavailable for public use until February, when work is expected to wrap up on the project, Ferdon said.
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The clerk-treasurer’s office has been temporarily relocated to the Cal Brand meeting room as renovation work continues. Signs will be posted directing the public to the alternative location, said Mary Ferdon, executive director of administration and community development.
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