“A tale of two City Halls”

With apologies to the great novelist, Charles Dickens, and also to my wonderful high school literature teachers, I just couldn’t help but paraphrase a little bit here to introduce this discussion of the latest conundrum bedeviling Swainsboro city government. I hope Mr. Dickens and all the rest will forgive me. For several months now, the City of Swainsboro has been undecided on which City Hall should be the true City Hall of Swainsboro. When the idea was first suggested by city officials that a vacant bank be purchased to house City Hall, the opposition among the citizenry was such that further discussion was tabled. But now, after serving for more than sixty years on the historically significant corner of The Crossroads of the Great South, the current City Hall building is facing the real and present danger of being stripped of its official title, position, and purpose. The Mayor and Council have decided that the center of city operations should be moved up North Main Street to the old Spivey Bank Building, and in an unexpected move at the most recent council meeting, a motion was made, seconded and passed without discussion to spend over half of a million dollars to buy that vacant bank. No mention was made of the costs involved in making such a move or the expense of preparing the unoccupied former Spivey building to serve as the relocated city hall, but common sense would say it could certainly push that half a million-price tag on up considerably. The two questions that immediately come to mind are, “Why would we move out of a building that has done the job for sixty years and can continue to do that job well into the future, and where is the money coming from to fund this project?” If Swainsboro was experiencing extraordinary growth or if the current building was not structurally safe, then the need would be obvious, but there is no such evidence of either condition. For sixteen years, I spent several days of every week in that building and was continually impressed with the integrity, soundness and durability of the building. During those years, we made significant improvements along the way. We replaced the roof system, replaced all windows, renovated second floor office areas and restrooms, upgraded HVAC, and renovated lighting and interior décor in the first-floor offices, lobby and conference room.

At a time when other renovation projects are on-going to improve the downtown district, it would be especially regrettable for the most architecturally striking building in the area to be retired and left empty and without function. Unfortunately, Swainsboro, unlike many of its neighboring cities, has not always demonstrated a strong concern for the preservation and legacy that buildings can provide for a community. North Main Street used to be a showcase of some of the most beautiful homes in this town. Sadly, they have long since been sacrificed in the name of “progress”. Before any irreversible action is taken, I would urge city officials to allow more input from the citizens of Swainsboro on these plans. If specific modifications are needed to the current City Hall, then we should certainly consider that. More efficient use of space can be achieved. If additional parking is a major concern, there are options to alleviate that as well. A sound, carefully executed plan, could provide exactly what is needed while spending less taxpayer money and gathering much more community support along the way. We have the opportunity here to curtail the practice of casting things aside. We can choose to honor the authenticity of a true piece of our own history; a living monument to this town’s story. This building belongs to us all, and it is still willing and able to serve.