With a flourish of a gold-painted shovel, Cosmopolis Mayor Kyle Pauley, former Mayor Frank Chestnut and other officials broke ground on the new city municipal building on Friday afternoon.
The building, designed by Harbor Architects and being built by Ronglin’s Inc., has had a long road to get here, Pauley said in his remarks.
“We would never have gotten here without Frank (Chestnut),” Pauley said. “Four years ago without him we would have never gotten this approval.”
City officials and guests stand in front of construction equipment during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Cosmopolis municipal building on Oct. 13. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
The building was approved by voters in 2019, but COVID caused the building to be put on hold. Rising material costs meant the original $3 million building need to be redesigned and reduced in scope to cope with higher prices.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’m absolutely thrilled to see it,” Chestnut said. “It’s been needed for years.”
The building will have a courtroom, council chamber and space for the Cosmopolis Police Department, which had been operating out of what was supposed to be a temporary trailer for years. It’ll have easier access for citizens to municipal officials, Pauley said.
Cosmopolis Mayor Kyle Pauley speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Cosmpolis municipal building on Oct. 13. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
Contractors will drive pilings early this week, but the work will mostly begin next year, after the rainy season. Construction will hopefully be finished late 2024/early 2025 said City Administrator Darrin C. Raines.
Cosmpolis Police Chief Heath Layman points at where the police used to operate out of a trailer during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new municipal building on Oct. 13. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
“It would have been nice to sit in the mayor’s office,” Pauley joked.
The ballot box in front of the current city hall will also be relocated around the building to accommodate the construction, Pauley said.
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
