Lexington’s Council voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to spend almost $200,000 to study the feasibility of moving city hall to a new location. A highly debated downtown project was drawn into the discussion.
Council member Richard Moloney questioned spending $198,000 on a city hall study. He says he's heard from local bankers that new developers for the Centre Point location are counting on the city relocating city hall to the development. Vice Mayor Steve Kay says if that’s the case, he’s not ready to make that kind of commitment. “As far as I’m concerned, one council member, unless they can give us a deal that’s the best deal possible, given what our options are, I’m not interested building a city hall just to make that project go,” said Kay.
Chief of Staff Jamie Emmons told council there's no indication Centre Point developers believe city hall relocating to the site is a done deal. Council member Angela Evans asked if the review of potential locations for city hall could be broadened to include consolidating government offices outside the downtown core.
Mayor Jim Gray says funding for the study is included in the current budget. He says the consultants will examine several options. “What is being done here is routine, normal procedure for examining and evaluating sites,” said Gray.
Council member Susan Lamb says she hopes this study will be the final one to determine the best way to move forward regarding the future of city hall.?
