Preparing to make the move

Stratton Place is nearly ready to serve as new location of Village Hall

“I think we’re going to be all but done by the end of this month. We’re knocking right on the door.” — Administrator Dwayne Bailey

The process of renovating the Stratton Place building into the new Madison Village Hall is nearing completion.

“I think we’re going to be all but done by the end of this month,” said village Administrator Dwayne Bailey, during the Feb. 24 Village Council meeting. “We’re knocking right on the door.”

Mayor Sam Britton proposed relocating Village Hall to Stratton Place after vetoing an ordinance on May 29 that would have led to purchasing the Lakeland East building at 201 Water Tower Drive.

Britton, in handing down his veto, said the decision to relocate Village Hall and the Police Department to Lakeland East had created divisions among council and in the community. The mayor also said he was concerned that the divisiveness could have hindered the positive advancement that the village was achieving in key areas, such as economic development.

Council failed on June 3 to override Britton’s veto of an ordinance that authorized him to sign a contract to purchase the building.

Stratton Place, located at 33 E. Main St., already is owned by the village.

The building has been used for many years as a community center. In recent years, the village also rented space in Stratton Place to the Madison office of the Lake County General Health District’s Women, Infants and Children program.

On Oct. 31, the Madison WIC office relocated to 31 Park St. in the village behind Park United Methodist Church.

At the Feb. 24 council meeting, Bailey said the last few jobs being done at Stratton Place include laying carpeting, attaching doors, and installing wall connectors and a server box for the village computer system.

A final inspection by the

Lake County Building Department also will be required before the village’s administrative offices and Police Department relocate from the current Village Hall at 126 W. Main St.

An ordinance that would have led to the purchase of Lakeland East for $1,025,000 described the current Village Hall as “functionally obsolete.” The 100-year-old building originally was constructed as Madison’s first public library.

Bailey said the original cost of renovating Stratton Place to serve as Village Hall was set at $59,000.

However, in late October, the village gave an updated estimate, stating that the project would be completed at less than $50,000 because of work that is being done in-house by Road Department employees. In addition, the village received a donation of office furniture for Stratton Place, including desks, chairs and bookcases, from Aerospace Maintenance Solutions of Solon.

On Feb. 25, Bailey clarified that the $50,000 figure covers the cost of getting Stratton Place into a condition in which village government and police can begin functioning.

“There will be some additional appropriations for other odds and ends as we begin to do business there,” he said.

Unlike the current Village Hall, Stratton Place already has a building entrance and exit ramp that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

One of the key reasons that the village, over the years, has sought a new location for its administrative and police headquarters is the high cost of making the existing Village Hall ADA accessible.

Stratton Place will have two parking places for people with disabilities near the ramp.

With renovation work at Stratton Place progressing swiftly, Councilman Duane Frager asked Bailey if the Feb. 24 Village Council meeting would be the last one ever held in the building at 126 W. Main St.

“I’m not going to commit to that yet,” Bailey replied. “But we’re getting close.”