By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
Bertram city officials purchased the R Bank building and parking lot earlier this month to be the site of its city hall next year. R Bank is building another bank near the town; once that building is finished, renovations can start on the new city hall, said Mayor Dickie Allen Tuesday, Nov. 25.
“We’ve purchased the building but we haven’t taken possession of it yet,” he explained.
The building is at the corner of Vaughan and Grange Streets in downtown Bertram.
“Only a few” renovations will be needed, he said, and he hopes work can begin by January or February next year.
In addition to more space and parking because of the parking lot included in the $285,000 purchase, the police department will have its own home in the present city hall building.
The city will no longer pay rent to the volunteer fire department there to rent part of their building to the police department.