The new Hermiston City Hall is “right on schedule,” according to the project superintendent.
The $9.6 million project is more than building a new city hall. It also includes rebuilding and realigning the public parking lot between city hall and Banner Bank, and replacing two blocks of aging water and sewer lines under the alley between Main Street and Gladys Avenue. Those lines date back to 1950 and earlier.
“We’re doing good, right on schedule,” said Daniel Sibila, project superintendent. “The heat this week has been tough, but we’re coping. Good progress on the parking lot project and everything else.”
Work on the water and sewer lines has meant several downtown businesses, particularly those serving food, have had to close down from June 1-8.
“The local businesses have been very cooperative,” said Sibila. “They’re not real happy to have to shut down, especially after just having just come back from the pandemic. So, to have to shut down again is tough. But the whole community has been great.”
Hermiston City Manager Byron Smith said the final piece of the water line should be in place by next week.
When the parking lot work is finished, it will include 10-12 additional parking spaces, decorative lighting and two charging stations for electric vehicles.
“When it’s done it will be much easier getting in and out of the lot,” said Smith.
The overall project also included remodeling the Hermiston Public Library basement to create office space. City staff is currently using the library’s basement as a temporary city hall.
The initial estimated completion date was sometime between mid-2022 and early 2023. Smith said he now thinks the new city hall will be open for business by fall of 2022.
“I would think September or October,” he said.
Once city hall is complete, the Hermiston Municipal Court will move in, freeing up space in the Hermiston Police Department, where it currently operates.
Meanwhile, Sibila said the public should start to see the formation of walls going up next week.
“That will be exciting,” he said. “There will be a lot of people stopping by to get a look.”
