City of Fairfield Anticipates Announcement in July of New PD / City Hall
One of the best kept secrets in Fairfield remains under wraps following a closed, executive session during last week’s meeting.
Still, Council members did approve an ordinance on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to provide funding for Project Go.
“We’re not ready to disclose yet because the real estate transaction has not been completed,” said Fairfield City Administrator Nate Smith, as he explained that the executive session involved a consultation with an attorney concerning a Real Estate matter.
Smith expects closing to finalize next month, at which time the City will release to the public details on the building location of the $1.735 million project.
According to ordinance documents, the purpose of the Project is to “acquire, construct, renovate, rehabilitate and equip a building to be used for public safety and judicial facilities, and other City facilities physically attached thereto, all to be housed within one building serving as City Hall.”
Vote was unanimous to approve funding, with all council members present.
The approved ordinance authorizes the issuance of a Tax Anticipation Note series for $1.735 million to be paid in yearly installments for a period of up to 7 years.
According to Smith, this amount was put forward for approval as Council members made it clear that they did not want the City’s current debt service obligations to go up, as a result of pursuing this project.
The City of Fairfield will be making their last payment, on their last debt obligation (the Mims Creek project), this year – approximately $289,000.
The new tax notes, with an interest rate of 3.01%, will require an annual payment of approximately $277,000 – resulting in a debt service obligation that will be almost $12,000 less than it is today.
The approved tax note series is being authorized through the levy of an annual ad valorem tax.
The need for a new City Hall / Police Department has been under serious discussion for more than four years.
The original City Hall on Mount Street closed in 2019 due to high levels of mold.
Currently, City staff are housed in two separate locations: the Police Department and Municipal Court utilize the Conference Center at the fairgrounds, and Administration and Utilities are located in rented facilities on the other side of town.
The City of Fairfield has twice attempted to address this problem, previously.
In 2019, after a petition triggered a special election, citizens voted down a proposition to approve the issuance of $2.65 million in Certificates of Obligation that would have funded several City projects, including the $500,000 purchase and approximately $958,000 renovation of the former Navarro complex for a new city hall campus.
Fairfield ISD subsequently purchased that property for use by the school district.
Following this, a new City Hall committee was formed, with the participation of several local citizens, to explore other options.
After looking over at least five potential sites, this committee deemed the original site on Mount Street to be the best option. With that recommendation, the original city hall building was demolished in May of 2021.
Then, in February of this year, Fairfield Council Members voted 3 to 1 to approve a Notice of Intent to issue Certificates of Obligations of up to $6 million, with no more than $3 million earmarked for new construction to house the Police Department / City Hall.
Once again, a citizen’s petition was submitted to require voter approval.
Had the City chosen to pursue this line of funding, they would have needed to make that decision in July in order to have called a special election in time for Election Day in November.
This third, and some hope final, option came about when the City was presented with another opportunity.
According to City Administrator Smith, the City is on track to make an official announcement next month once they close on the property.
Stay tuned.
