City hall repairs under way

(Updated: Thursday, June 9, 2005 9:50 AM CDT)

Leada Gore, Madison Record

Construction is finally under way on the lower floor of Madison City Hall.

The basement - once home to the information technology and planning departments - has been vacant since November 2003 when sewage flooded the rooms.

Employees were vacated from the basement and the city began the long battle to find who was responsible for the damage and the best way to get it repaired.

City workers will continue to be housed in temporary buildings and in other City Hall offices until the work is complete.

That can't come soon enough, Mayor Sandy Kirkindall said.

"Although city employees have managed admirably in cramped quarters to maintain a high level of service and efficiency, the excitement generated by the start of work on the basement is tangible," he said.

The city recently settled with Madison Water and Wastewater Board for $100,000 for damages to the basement and is still in negotiations with its insurance carrier.

Pearce Construction will be doing the work. Repairs are expected to cost some $479,000 and be complete by October.

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