By Jef Rietsma
Construction of Vicksburg’s new municipal building has passed its halfway point. Village council members had an opportunity last month to check out the progress.
Council members Karl Keller, Denny Olsen and Ryan Wagner met with Morgan Macomber, senior project manager with Frederick Construction. Located on a site just north of the village water tower on North Richardson Street, the $2.5 million complex is expected to be open by February.
All three council members indicated their satisfaction with what they saw during the half-hour tour.
Macomber provided a top-to-bottom overview of the project. He said crews picked up the pace in mid-May, just a few weeks after a ceremonial groundbreaking April 24. Since then, plenty has happened.
He said some major components still need to be addressed include electrical, mechanical, drywall, case work and finishes. Concrete foundation, plumbing and framing were completed by the time of the walk-through.
The building features two sets of male and female bathrooms, a janitor’s closet, break room, reception area, four offices on the municipal side, and a chief’s office and a squad room on the north end of the building. Police will have the benefit of an evidence room, locker room, meeting room and interrogation room.
A village council meeting room will be in the center of the building, dividing the two sides. Macomber said audio and video hardware is being installed and will be used to broadcast village council and other municipal meetings.
Meanwhile, Macomber said police personnel will have a dedicated entrance into the building, while municipal staff will access from a separate entrance via keycard entry.
Village officials have proudly stated the project is being paid with cash on hand.
During the April groundbreaking ceremony, village president Tim Frisbie said the new municipal hall will be ADA-compliant, feature enough space to accommodate all facets of the village’s police department, large enough for staff to conduct day-to-day operations and – most importantly, he said – provide proper room to host meetings.
Village Manager Jim Mallery said planning for the new facility started in 2016. By January 2018, council members began setting aside funds dedicated exclusively toward covering the cost of a new municipal building.
In January 2022, village officials debated whether to purchase new property and build, look for an existing building to renovate, or consider building new on village-owned property. Ultimately, council members a chose to construct on the west side of Richardson Street on the site just north of the municipal water tower.
A licensed demolition crew will eventually raze the existing village hall but not until after the new facility is constructed and open for business. A parking lot will be added where the current village office sits.
Landscaping will likely be completed next spring, Macomber said.
Mallery said village taxpayers will save between $1.5 million and $2 million over the course of a typical 30-year bond because the project is being paid with cash.