McIntosh council seeks $500,000 in state funds to replace town hall

The McIntosh Town Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 9 to direct Town Manager Regina Rickman to pursue a legislative appropriation request of $500,000 to demolish the existing town hall and construct a new facility.

Rickman told the council the town should present a concise proposal to the legislature ahead of the delegation meeting in October. "My suggestion is to, I will recommend asking $500K, that will cover the design, build, demolition of the existing building and construction," she said. Councilors discussed whether the new building should include rentable space for a doctor or other tenants and how a matching appropriation would change the project scope.

Councilor George Naworensky, who reviewed the existing building with a contractor, said renovating the current structure could trigger extensive code upgrades and additional costs, making new construction more feasible. Members debated footprint and orientation, with some favoring a larger design if state funds become available and others urging fiscal caution if the appropriation does not materialize.

Rickman will approach local legislators and prepare a brief package with background, a budget estimate and a proposed timeline ahead of the Oct. 7 delegation meeting. The council did not set a final design tonight; members asked the manager to return with more detailed materials and noted the design phase itself could be funded by appropriations if legislators agree to sponsor the request.

Next steps: the manager will contact legislators and prepare supporting materials; council expects to revisit design and budget particulars at a later meeting.