A group of concerned citizens met with
city officials to discuss a petition against expanding
city hall, but officials remain convinced
it’s in Clarkston’s best interests.
‘The facilities committee worked hard and
concluded it would be better to make payments
over time and, at the end, the city
would own an asset rather than continuing
to rent and have nothing at the end,” said
City Manager Carol Eberhardt at the July 14
meeting at Clarkston-Independence District
Library.
Three proposals for an addition to
Clarkston city hall, with construction costs
up to $500,000, is too much for a city of 880
residents, said residents supporting a petition
to stop any expensive project.
‘You don’t have the money for this,” said
businessman and resident Bob Roth. ‘Where
do you think you are going to get the
money?”
The city leases 3 E. Church Street for storage
of DPW equipment. The lease expires on
Dec. 31, and the property was recently purchased
by Union Joints.
Eberhardt said the most expensive proposal
is off the table. Remaining proposals
were scaled back, removing items such as
new doors and a paint job, which whittled
costs down to $250,000.
Petitioners at the meeting also included
city residents Tom Stone and Lorry Mahler.
The city was represented by Eberhardt,
Mayor Joe Luginski and Councilman Eric
Haven. Several other residents sat in a group
watching, occasionally adding comments.
Stone began the meeting by saying he
was there as an individual, not representing
others who have been critical of the city.
Roth mentioned drawings for revamps to
city hall had been completed and paid for
previously.
City council approved $23,000 in architectural
and design fees to architect James
Renaud.
During the discussion, officials said the
project has been considered numerous times
previously.
Luginski said the city should spend
money towards owning rather than renting,
as they did with the 3 E. Church building.
The city spends about $23,000 a year
renting, not including repair work over the
years.
Former city manager Dennis Ritter, who
also attended the meeting, agreed.
‘It is an ideal time to finance improvements,”
Ritter said.
Luginski said the project will be financed
over several years.
‘Then, we will have a return on our investment
rather than just paying for rent,”
he added.
The officials said they were open to ideas
to save money including storing equipment
on Clarkston Community Schools or Independence
Township property.
At a facilities meeting Monday morning,
Eberhardt, DPW Foreman Jason Miller, Councilman
Tom Hunter, committee chairman Jim
Bruick, and the residents discussed other
options.
Eberhardt said city workers are facing various
challenges when it comes to moving
items and equipment from the old garage on
Church.
‘We have boxes and boxes of documents,?
she said, adding she has called the
city’s copy machine company to discuss
scanning the documents, which would cost
around $25,000.
Miller said tens of thousands of dollars in
decorations are also stored in the garage.
Bruick and his fellow committee members
agreed to explore other options at the school
and partnering with other municipalities including
Independence Township.
Miller cautioned against storing any
equipment outside, especially the city’s decades
old street sweeper.
Eberhardt said Curt Catallo, a partner in
the Union Joints businesses, indicated he
would be converting the building that houses
Morgan’s Service, an auto repair shop, into a
restaurant before tackling 3 E. Church.