Lowell council chooses less-costly project to house City Hall, library at Maggie Osgood building site

By DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald — A plan to create a City Hall and library without increasing utility fees was approved 3-1 Tuesday night by the Lowell City Council.

The $393,417 remodeling of the Maggie Osgood building at 70 N. Pioneer St. will be financed by the sale of city property, a $183,000 USDA loan and a $150,000 Ford Foundation grant.

New council member Maureen Weathers encouraged council members to keep financing within the general fund rather than through a utility fee.

Councilors Gail Harris, Tim Stratis and Weathers supported the $393,417 remodeling project rather than expanding the 2,800-square-foot building to 3,775 square feet at an estimated cost of $1.8 million.

Councilor John Myers, a builder who supported the more expensive proposal, said after the meeting that he believes the structure will need a new roof, siding and other improvements and would provide needed services for a growing community. He also pointed out that half of those people who responded to a mail survey supported the more-expensive proposal.

Public reaction to the two proposals was split in the mail survey and during a “town hall” meeting, City Administrator Jeremy Caudle reported prior to the 45-minute council discussion. The survey was mailed to 490 utility customers. Seventy-four responded.

The $393,417 proposal to repay a loan would have cost a utility customer $2.56 a month, the $1.8 million proposal $12.06.

Councilor Harris voiced concern about balancing the cost with other projects such as the need for more policing.

Weathers, who recently retired from the Lowell School Board and is a former Springfield mayor, opposed a user fee rather than handling the loan through the general budget. She said even though the less-expensive project doesn’t provide a space for meetings, existing buildings such as the fire station that “already are paid for” could be used for that purpose.

She also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed work habits that eliminate the need for working space at a library when that work could be done at home.

“We still could do a lot of things with the upgrade,” she said. “Something the general fund can handle.

“Doing something with what we have, we build pride and confidence. Then taxpayers will trust you when you need to add things.”

The current City Hall is located at 107 E. Third St. The library was located there before it was closed because of the building’s condition.

William “Bill” Priser was appointed as a planning commission member and received a round of applause from council members and Mayor Don Bennett.

Priser, 27, was the unsuccessful candidate to replace Sam Dragt, who left the council a month ago to become Lowell’s city clerk. Dragt was replaced by Weathers.

The Lowell Fire District lieutenant is a Lowell High School graduate who was a cadet firefighter from 2010-12, served as a Eugene police officer and worked at a local credit union before joining the fire department.