Excerpts from Livingston Parish News:
"WALKER – The City of Walker has started the process that will culminate in a new City Hall by the end of 2020, according to its mayor.
The City Council approved a resolution and introduced three ordinances at its meeting Monday to purchase the property, the first step in the process. The new City Hall will be located on 4.7 acres, Mayor Jimmy Watson said, which would meet the long-term needs of the city.
The first ordinance would authorize the purchase of the 4.72 acres in the 13000 block of Aydell Lane. The second ordinance would transfer $680,000 from the Enterprise Fund to the General Fund to pay for the land. The third ordinance would move $6.5 million into the General Fund to pay for the construction and furnishing of the new City Hall.
Labarre Associates Inc. will be the architect, and Forte & Tablada will be the engineer, Watson said. Labarre is analyzing the floor plan now and everything is in the early stages of design.
Watson and his staff are looking at a building with 24,000 to 30,000 square feet and are “leaning” to a two-story building.
All of the departments now at City Hall will be in the new facility, including the permits department, which is housed in a trailer. More parking is being planned to handle traffic coming to City Court on Tuesdays, Etheridge said.
The facility also will have a council meeting room that will serve as the courtroom, public restrooms, a conference room and a drive-up window for residents to pay bills, he said.
Space is also being planned for council members to meet with constituents, Watson said. It will have its own exterior door to an office, desk, computer and reference material where the elected officials can help city residents.