Village Hall Restoration Completion Projected for Summer

Village officials say the projected completion of work at flood-damaged may be July, but they're not holding strict timelines or their collective breath. The council is going slow and steady because they "want to get it right this time," officials said.

validated that having the village's prized municipal building in the 100-year flood plain was perhaps not the wisest of decisions. But with available and no realistic plans to move Village Hall, the council has been pursuing a.

If everything goes right, the tiles will be easily washed off and meetings can be held on the floor shortly after large flood events, officials have said.

In the meantime, last Wednesday, the council fielded questions from one of the many groups displaced from Village Hall do to the damage and the slow pace of progress in repairs.

Donald Liebreich, president of Highlights in Leisure Time (HILT), a senior activities group, expressed frustration that there's been little news as to the status of the project.

"We're distributing our people all over the village to try and put together some occasions for them and it's not too easy," he said.

"It's going to take as long as it does so we get it right so that unless there is a major, major disaster, HILT and the rest of the people downstairs won't be shuffled around again," said Mayor Keith Killion in response. "I can't give you a date and time when that will be done. But we are aware not only HILT, but the youth council and all the other meeting places are being displaced. It's an unfortunate thing but this job has to be done."

"We have to get it right this time," he said, echoing an oft-heard phrase in recent months.

The village on Wednesday awarded a $12,500 contract to RSC Architects in Clifton. Village Manager Ken Gabbert said project work encompasses preparing documents, preparing construction materials for bid specifications, going out to bid, approving the contractor and overseeing construction over the summer.

The plan, as it currently stands, is to go out to bid on March 16 and complete the project by late June of 2012.

"And if my experience has held true, that means August, 2012," Gabbert responded.

Multiple plans could be submitted, cost figures could be unpalletable and there are also general contracting issues that can arise in any large project that would cause delays, officials said.

"The council is reluctant to give you a date because if that date doesn't come for whatever reason, people hold us accountable to that date," Killion said to Liebreich, assuring him he'll be kept in the loop.

Originally projected to cost around $200,000 to fix, officials concede they won't know the real costs until bids are received.