The Leighton Township
Board Thursday evening held its last meeting at the soon to be old township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue.
Most of the business conducted dealt the move into new offices adjacent to the Leighton District Library, 4451 12th St., Moline. Officials said they should be open for business on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
So board members have been busy preparing to move things out of the old and into the new.
“We’ve got one foot in the boat and one foot in the dock,” quipped Supervisor Steve Deer.
Township Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis promised everything at the new offices will be ready for the Tuesday, Nov. 8, general election.
So board members had to take action on items related to the move, such as:
- Ordering new signs for the offices and library, which will be very similar to the sign at the old township hall, which is being renovated and expanded for the fire department. However, Deer reported, “Renovation for this building is significantly behind schedule.”
- Securing a surge suppressor to protect electronic equipment inside against lightning strikes. However, Deer said the cost thus far has been too high, so, “I haven’t been able to wrestle this to the ground yet.” The bids that have come in suggest a price of $4,600 apiece for two suppessors.
- Finding emergency generators in case of inclement weather that might shut down heat in the buildings.
- Crafting rules and prices for rentals of the library and hall. A $50 fee was proposed for township residents, but Treasurer Char Troost said she feared that was too low. And a refundable deposit of $75
might not cover the costs of breakage.
Officials also grappled with the issue of who would receive a key to enter, so those matters have been tabled until later as well.
The new township hall was built this year as an addition to the library because the current hall, built in 1984, just cannot handle the usage and office space needed any longer.
PHOTO: This is the sign in front of the current township hall, which is similar to what the new one will look like.