It has been more than a year since Fairfield City Council started the discussions over purchasing the Navarro College Campus, and last week a decision was made during the Friday, July 19th, 2019 meeting in front of an audience of about twenty people.
Following a presentation from the City Hall Project Committee, the evening concluded with an 4 to 1 vote authorizing Mayor Kenny Hughes and City Administrator Nate Smith to enter into negotiations with Navarro College for the purchase of the Navarro Complex located on Hwy 84 near Post Oak Road.
The purchase price of $500,000 would bring in eleven acres of space and five buildings, with 23,000 square feet of space. The complex would bring all City staff under one roof.
The facilities could also allow new paths for City revenue, such as renting space on the antenna, included with the purchase.
The complex is located so anyone traveling through Fairfield on Highway 84 would see City Hall. As committee member Vance Oglesbee said, the Navarro Complex purchase would allow a City Hall that would, “Become a footprint to bring people to the city. A magnet even.”
The total price, as the City Halls Committee’s presentation showed, would be $1.458 million dollars; which breaks down to a purchase price of $500,000 and a renovation budget of $958,000.
At $60.78 per square foot, this would be a much lower price than the $165 to $200 square foot estimated for building a new City Hall, according to the Committee’s findings.
The City Hall Committee was tasked with researching three options: Building New, Renovating Existing, and Purchasing/Renovating the Navarro Complex.
Their recommendation as the best choice for the City of Fairfield moving forward is the purchase and renovation of the Navarro Complex.
Click here to read “Frequently Asked Questions” about the new City Hall project.
A resident and business owner, Oglesbee, outlined the benefits of purchasing the Navarro Complex. “This is why you do this now.” he said, “To bring people into town.”
Some residents expressed that buying the Navarro Complex seemed a rush decision. However, former City Council member, Donna Tyus, stated that even ten years ago, they knew a new location was a growing necessity.
Less than two weeks ago, the old City Hall building on Mount Street was closed due to high levels of the mold, Aspergillus. While not a black mold, it still can cause adverse medical affects for people with allergies or prolonged exposure.
Since the temporary move into the Conference Center, employees have already reported feeling better.
The biggest problem with the old building was its topography, which allowed water to flow down into the building and causing extensive flood damage. Building structure, equipment and evidence were damaged by the continual flooding.
According to City Administrator Nate Smith, once the mold report was found at the Mount Street location, questions were raised about possible mold at the Navarro property.
So, the City conducted a test and the results came in Thursday afternoon, the same day as the Town Hall meeting was originally scheduled.
According to City Administrator Smith, the lab report showed elevated levels of mold in the air ducts. “However, it is NOT to the levels found in the previous city hall,” he said.
Subsequently, the community tour of the Navarro complex was canceled, and the Committee presentation moved to the Friday Council meeting.
Smith believes that once the mold issue is resolved, and the community can tour the building, “They will see what we are seeing.”
According to the City Administrator, the City of Fairfield will require Navarro College to either fix the mold problem, or go down on the purchase price.
As the week’s edition is headed to newsstands, Fairfield City Council is meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23rd at the Green Barn Civic Center. Two agenda items relate to the City Hall project, including authorization to bid out design services and approving publication of a Notice of Intent to issues Certificates of Obligation.
(Photo by Victoria Keng)
