Providence City councilmembers disagree with vote to purchase new city office building

The Providence City Council recently voted three to two to free up a million-plus dollars to purchase a new building that would house the city offices. However, no vote has been taken yet on the building purchase itself.

On an earlier program of <a href=”http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/324/2015_05_07_324_33283_2867.mp3″ target=”_blank”>KVNU’s For the People, Providence Mayor Don Calderwood and Councilmember Bill Bagley</a> said they feel it would be a wise decision to purchase the old WestHost building on Gateway Drive. On the same program last <a href=”http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/324/2015_05_23_324_33818_2867.mp3″ target=”_blank”>Friday, two councilmembers disagreed: John Drew and Ralph Call</a>.

Drew said Mayor Calderwood continues to call the existing city offices an “old old” building but it’s actually not that old.

“The building was built back in the ’80s. In 2005, I believe, there was a new roof put on the building,” Drew explained. “The look is dated; it’s got that cultured stone on the front which some people have said, ‘it’s an ugly building.’

“That’s not a reason to go buy a new building. But, there are certainly some things we can do to modernize it, to make it look better. But we are not running out of space as some people have said.”

The mayor has said taxes would not be raised and that the city has the money available.

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