Residents view plans for new Louisville town hall

By Melissa Sherrod
Daily Times Correspondent

Plans for a new town hall in Louisville came a little closer to reality Tuesday night when residents were invited to view the plans.

Last May, the Louisville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to build a $1.1 million town hall/community center aided by an anonymous donor's offer of a $250,000 challenge grant. The donor will distribute $50,000 a year for five years if the town raises a matching amount.

Architect Amber Classen of the board's building committee was on hand to answer questions, and residents were invited to submit comments for the building committee's consideration.

In its current conception, the building would be located at the site of the present town hall structure adjacent to the Louisville Volunteer Fire Department.

The planned footprint is currently at 7,360 net square feet with the largest room being a conference area with a capacity of around 250 people. The plans include 84 parking spaces.

After the public viewing of the site plans, Mayor Geraldine Anderson called the regular board meeting to order. The board formally adopted a purchasing policy for the town which allows for competitive bidding of all goods and services over $4,000.

Tom Bickers of the town hall building committee said that the committee would put out a request for proposals for architectural services for the new town hall. The board would then have to approve the successful bidder.

Another item brought before the board was the rezoning of two parcels of land in Louisville, including about 33 currently undeveloped acres at the corner of Topside and Louisville Roads. Both parcels were approved on first reading for rezoning by the board. Representatives of Sterling Engineering were on hand to answer questions about the possible development of the 33 acres.