Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

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January 27, 2013

City of Greenup

Remodeling of offices under way

Carrie Stambaugh The Independent

GREENUP — The city building in Greenup is getting a face-lift.

Officials say the changes will make the building more friendly to the public and safe and efficient for employees.

The building on Main Street houses the utility clerk’s offices, mayor’s office, police department, city garage and city council chambers.

Mayor Lundie Meadows said Friday about 80 percent of the work is completed, and the remainder will be done in the coming weeks. The rehab is expected to cost $19,000. Meadows noted the city budgeted for the work last year, prior to passing its controversial payroll tax.

The most expensive and needed repairs, Meadows said, were to the building’s electrical system. Many of the outlets did not work and extension cords were used to run computer equipment. Power often failed to those machines and lighting was poor, he said, noting workers also had to be careful to step over the cords crisscrossing the office.

In addition, electricians found several other safety issues when they began making initial repairs. Some wires in the ceiling were not properly taped or secured, while others were not tied into individual breakers but rather the building’s main power breaker. Phone and Internet lines were draped over walls doorways and running across the floor, Meadows said.

The situation was unsafe and needed to be remedied, he said. The electrical repairs have  been made and utility lines placed in the ceiling and behind walls.

Repairs to the building’s roof have also been completed, according to Meadows. In the area where the roof of the garage and city building meet, there were holes, which had been leaking for some time.

“It had just been patched and patched,” said Meadows. “We got in there and fixed it the right way.”

Changes were also made inside the police department. An evidence locker was moved to a more secure location inside the chief’s office and an open workspace created for the city’s other police officers. Before, Meadows said, they had no where to do paperwork or interviews.

In the front of the building, where the public has the most interaction with city utility staff, there is a “totally different view than you had before,” said Meadows. There will be two windows to conduct business, and a custom desk being built for the space can be used by left- or right-handed employees who can arrange cash drawers and other items.

Data ports have also been added to the space, which will allow workers to process debit and credit card payments there instead of having to go to another location inside the building to do so, Meadows said. A TV will also be added to the foyer and will display the city’s water system. Meadows said customers with water issues will be able to look at real-time information on the city’s pumps and water tank.

“It gives the customer a broad aspect of how big we are and what is going on in the area that they live in,” he said.

In addition, a new filing room has been created to house the city’s fax machine, printer and other electronic devices. New flooring for the utility office space has been let for bids.

Meadows said he thinks the public will be pleased. “It’s going to be more efficient for employes and nicer for customers.”

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

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