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Lebanon City committee outlines next steps on city hall, seeks architects and engineers
Summary
At a Feb. 2 committee meeting, Lebanon City members agreed to collect cost estimates and interview architects or engineers to evaluate options for the old streets-department building and the future of city hall, with final bidder-sensitive decisions likely to move to executive session.
The Lebanon City Council committee on Feb. 2 directed staff and council members to gather cost estimates and begin interviewing architects or engineers to evaluate options for the old streets-department building and to advance planning for city hall.
A council member said they would compile rough estimates — demolition, fill, electric service, paving — before engaging technical consultants so the committee could better assess whether to renovate the existing structure, partially renovate, demolish, or pursue a new build. The member said, “If we demo it, what’s it going to cost to demo it? What’s it going to cost to get electric where it needs to go?” (Council member).
Other members warned that firm numbers require engineering and noted procurement fairness concerns: different contractors can produce inconsistent bids if scopes differ. Several council members recommended interviewing architects, which they said could supply drawings, preliminary construction and demolition cost estimates, and act as project managers to coordinate engineers and contractors.
The committee discussed timing and procurement compliance. The chair and members emphasized care when discussing site locations or bidder-sensitive details on the public record, saying such remarks can affect property pricing or create unfair advantages for potential bidders. Those portions of deliberation were described as appropriate for a closed executive session, with draft language for any closed-session motion to be prepared by the city attorney.
No final decisions or contract awards were made. The committee said items from a canceled Jan. 26 meeting will carry to the Feb. 9 meeting and that an executive session will be scheduled to receive legal and property advice before making any procurement or site-direction votes. The committee also asked staff to provide clearer cost information to the public before formal votes.
