ST. CHARLES (KMOX) - St. Charles' City Hall building has been in use for over 52 years, but city officials are saying the current one has run its course.
"The existing and current building is completely obsolete," said St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer on Total Information A.M., "We got people on top of people, we have no communications and very poor security. We got weight limit problems. The building was cutting edge 52 years ago but it just isn't anymore."
St. Charles officials are pushing for taxpayers to back a new bond in April that will not only finance a new city hall for the city, but an entire City Complex that will include things such as the Historical Society, a Senior Center with a Recreational Center component, Sister Cities International offices, and an Arts and Cultural center with restaurant incubators.
St. Charles authorities have stressed that bond, which will cover the $85 million costs of the complex, will not include a tax increase for residents.
Some residents have questioned if building the complex is necessary and why couldn't the city just renovate and expand city hall, but Borgmeyer says it would cost more to renovate and expand it than to build a new city hall.
"(The current building) currently is 51,000 square feet right now and we need a minimum of 75,000," said Borgmeyer. "Basically it going to be just over $41 million to renovate and expand the existing building and to be still in the old building that still have a variety of problems that going to occur down the line, but with a new city hall, it's going to cost $35 million."
While some residents have been against building a new city hall, Borgmeyer says from conversations he's had it's been favorable and a lot of criticism is based on pure misconception.
"As soon as the council put it on the agenda, there were immediate reports the cost would be $85 million," said Borgmeyer. "No, we're spending $35 million on city hall. But our senior's center is also functionally obsolete, and there's $15 million in that $85 million for a senior center and rec-plex, $7.5 million for a arts and culture center, $13 million for security, technology and location of expenses."
"Along that, I'm going to be honest, downtown St. Charles has choked for parking and we're going to have a $9 million parking structure to go along with it also."
Borgmeyer says the city will send out mailings and have public hearings for residents leading up to April to have more information regarding the City Complex.