Norfolk Daily News

Wednesday – January 16, 2008

Several local agencies are interested in working with Norfolk city officials in an effort to find common office space for everyone.

That was the tenor of comments at a meeting Wednesday morning during which representatives of five agencies, five city council members, the mayor and two mayoral candidates sat around the table to discuss the issue.

Agency representatives first contacted the city in a Dec. 21 letter and urged elected officials to broaden the scope of their search for administrative office space to replace offices in the outdated city auditorium. They suggested as a model the Lifelong Learning Center at Northeast Community College because it houses offices for several unrelated agencies.

The city has an option to buy the vacant First Christian Church building on Highway 81 in northern Norfolk for $650,000 and is evaluating its suitability to remodel into office space. Also part of the dialogue is whether city offices should remain downtown.

At Wednesday’s meeting were representatives of the Norfolk Public Schools, Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Norfolk Area Recruiters and the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District. Representatives of the county board and Elkhorn Valley Economic Development Council signed the letter, too, but they weren’t at Wednesday’s meeting.

Mayor Gordon Adams said he doubted that a capital fund drive, like that used to build the Lifelong Learning Center, would succeed. He cautioned against burdening taxpayers and unduly raising property taxes to build a new office facility.

The city budget is already tight, and the city faces the prospect of going to the voters for a bond issue to improve Memorial Field, he said, adding that it’s more important than a new city hall.

“Sixty percent of the people I talk to say let’s go with the North 13th location,’’ Adams said of the church building.

How the purchase and remodeling of the church building would be financed hasn’t been determined, he said.
Connie Geary, representing the chamber, asked if a private investor could be found to build and lease a building to the city.

Adams said that could be possible, but the city — meaning taxpayers — would still ultimately have to pay for it.

Councilman Ivan Van Dyke asked those in attendance if they thought the city offices should remain downtown.

The chamber and the visitors bureau, which has its office with the chamber, favored downtown, as did mayoral candidates Tom Schommer and Sue Fuchtman. Neutral or not addressing location were the school district, recruiters group and economic development district.

Van Dyke said his research showed Norfolk has a total assessed property valuation of over $1 billion and only $23 million is in the downtown parking district.

“We have to look at Norfolk in its entirety, not just downtown,’’ he said.

Fred Schellpeper, chamber president, said the chamber board last year decided to begin the process of finding different office space and now favors the idea of a one-stop facility for agencies, which he said would create a cost savings for all. Chamber members have capital to bring to the table in the form of equity or leasing as well.

“We’d be willing to consider either of those to help make this go forward,’’ he said.

Clark Froehlich, a school board member, said the school district is not in a position to put up a new facility but would be interested in exploring a campus concept involving two, three or four buildings over the long term to achieve economies of scale.

Councilman Dave Fauss said the council is being sensitive to raising taxes because the city budget is not in the best of shape. He also said there are 10 or 11 locations in the city to be considered before a decision is made.

Councilman Karl Reeder said a feasibility study may be needed to determine the costs involved for co-locating for each agency.

Van Dyke, a real estate agent, said the cost of leasing would be in the range of $12 to $14 per square foot. Tax-exempt bonds could be issued for a project, but they wouldn’t be tax-exempt if a nonprofit agency is involved.

Speaking for herself, Lora Young of the visitors bureau said she wouldn’t mind a tax increase if it meant more amenities for Norfolk that would help keep young people and attract new residents.