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Mound council approves study to evaluate selling or repurposing Centennial Building
Summary
Council voted June 24 to authorize a preliminary study, including a title check and building scan, to evaluate options for the Centennial Building and potential relocation of council chambers to City Hall; the study will cost roughly $8,500 and staff will return with a timeline and additional cost estimates.
MOUND CITY — The Mound City Council on June 24 authorized a preliminary evaluation to determine what would be required to subdivide and market the Centennial Building property and to assess whether council chambers could be reestablished in the current City Hall building.
The council approved a proposal from Bolton & Menk (architectural services) to conduct a staged needs study — focused first on the Centennial Building title, a documented interior scan and a narrative of potential code or maintenance items — with a fee estimate of about $8,500. The city will not yet fund in‑depth structural work or cost estimating for a full council‑chambers reconfiguration, which would be a second phase.
Why it matters: The Centennial Building sits adjacent to City Hall and has long housed quasi‑governmental tenants and community space. Councilmembers and staff said they want a clear, step‑by‑step analysis before deciding whether to keep the asset, sell it as a redevelopment parcel, or demolish it and release land for new development.
What the council authorized: Senior City Engineer Brian Simmons told the council the limited study will include an interior scan and a preliminary title and plat review to assess whether the parcel can be subdivided and how driveway/parking access should be handled. Simmons said full design work to replicate council chambers at the old public safety building (City Hall) would be a separate study and cost.
Council discussion: Councilmembers asked for clarification on the scope and for the study to include an estimate for demolition cost as an option. Councilmember (unnamed) noted that any price the city could obtain for the building should be compared with the cost to renovate or demolish and redevelop. The motion to move forward with the study passed on a voice vote; staff said they would return with a timeline and survey/title work results.
Quotes and context: Simmons said the work will “identify what it would cost to separate ourselves from this building,” and explained that conduit, access and legal title issues can complicate a sale. He warned that a detailed renovation or replacement cost estimate for City Hall would substantially increase the consultant hours and fees, so the council limited the initial study to a needs analysis and title/search work.
Next steps: Staff will order a title search and a survey to determine the legal parcel boundaries, integrate a 3‑D interior scan of the Centennial Building into the study package and obtain a demolition cost estimate as requested by council. Simmons said he expects the firm to return with results by late summer.
Ending: The council’s vote cleared the way for the city to collect the technical information needed to weigh redevelopment or retention; any sale or major renovation would require additional council authorization in later meetings.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript and are listed below.
