COVID delays new City Hall

COVID delays new City Hall

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RIDGELAND — As construction continues on the new 30,000 square-foot City Center building, officials remain optimistic that they will hit their latest target opening date sometime in February.

Aldermen recently approved a reimbursement agreement with the city and the Gulf South Pipeline Company for pipes going into the city center project at the corner of Highway 51 and School Street. 

City officials continue to project an opening for the building at the beginning of the year. 

Mayor Gene F. McGee said that Gulf South expected to have their portion complete by the end of the year.

The item was approved unanimously 7-0 recently on the consent agenda. Ward 5 Alderman Bill Lee participated by teleconference.

Construction setbacks due to the coronavirus and weather delays were reported in September to the board by John Algood of Benchmark Construction. 

They have pushed the opening of the ongoing $15.9 million project from late this year to early February 2021. City officials had originally hoped to move into the facility as early as the end of December of this year.

Algood told the mayor and board that the delay was due to a subcontractor for Mid State Construction who had to leave the job site for two weeks due to a positive COVID-19 test. After the work crew had properly quarantined they saw subsequent delays due to weather.

The project is being paid for from just under $20 million in bonds issued to fund major capital projects last year.

Earlier this month city officials offered an update on the Veteran’s Garden. Public Works Director and member of the board appointed to handle donations for the project, said that they are about halfway to their fundraising goal of $150,000, largely raised by selling bricks at the site.

"If anyone has any questions I would encourage them to call the city and ask for me and I would be more than happy to help them out," McCollum said.

The proposed Veteran’s Garden is set to be paid for by private donations managed by members of the Madison County Veterans Service and a board that includes Community Development Director Alan Hart and McCollum.

The Veteran’s Memory Park in Ridgeland is projected to cost around $122,000 and was spearheaded by the late Dr. Tom Logue. Plans were approved by the city in April 2017.

The park will include benches and plaques commemorating the six branches of the military. The park also features a central walkway, “the Walk of Heroes,” and a flagpole. The centerpiece would be a seven-foot bell tower.






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