DATE: Saturday, November 1, 1997            TAG: 9711010728

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   69 lines

QUARTERS NEARLY READY FOR SEVERAL CITY OFFICES

Renovation costs are under budget for BB&T building in Elizabeth City.

After a hard-fought and bitter election, Mayor Rick Gardner is pumped about beginning his third term in a new house.

``Obviously, I'm very excited about this,'' Gardner said as he led a brief tour through the new municipal building, which is actually a renovated version of the former BB&T bank building.

It sits next to the current City Hall, which Gardner says has been crowded for years. The city will expand its offices throughout both buildings when the work is finished in about a month.

``We expect to do the swearing-in on the first Monday in December right here,'' Gardner said, standing in a new council chambers that seats 80 people, nearly three times as many as the current council room.

To expand its headquarters, the city spent $450,000 to buy the BB&T building and budgeted another $350,000 to renovate it.

Contractor C.D. Hayes of Chesapeake began renovations in March after a low bid of $189,678. Add to that a $29,000 elevator, a $5,000 fire escape, architectural fees and a few extra walls and gadgets for an up-to-date total $238,770. The city will furnish its new offices with used BB&T furniture included in the price of building. The only work remaining is the carpet and some installation of electronics.

``That's the best part. We're well under budget,'' he said.

The expansion increases space for city business from 19,026 square feet to 26,676 square feet.

``It's so open,'' Gardner said, waving his arm at the ample space on the first floor, where residents will pay their utility bills and sign on for service. ``A person won't feel so closed in.''

The new building will house offices for the city clerk, mayor and city manager, an office for council members, a conference room for closed sessions, the finance department, human resources, customer service and the new council chambers.

``This allows enough seating for 99 percent of our meetings,'' said Steve Harrell, city manager. ``Every other commissioners' meeting, somebody is falling out into the hallway.''

If there is overflow, people in the hallway will be able to watch the proceedings from a television monitor.

``I hope the additional space will encourage people to come to City Council meetings,'' Gardner said.

``I think maybe the City Council can get a fresh start in a new building,'' said Jeannie Young, newly elected to the City Council on Oct. 7. She will be the youngest member of council.

The police department will take over the entire first floor of the current building. The administrative parts of police work will be separated from the law enforcement parts, eliminating the awkward mixture of criminals and people there on business, said Harrell.

``This will provide adequate space for a police department that is more than two times the size it was when it moved here in 1963,'' Harrell said.

Planning and inspections departments will remain on the third floor of the current building. Fire department administrative offices will go to the second floor.

Gardner's construction company built the BB&T bank building 26 years ago, just eight years after the current City Hall was built. But the renovations give it the look of something brand new, he says, without the huge cost.

``Citizens will take pride in this building and be able to say, `This is my City Hall.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Standing in the former BB&T building, Rick Gardner, Elizabeth City

mayor, says he hopes the additional space will encourage people to

come to more City Council meetings.

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