The City of Portage, city council, and Mayor Sue Lynch welcomed residents to the open house viewing of the newly remodeled city hall on June 7, 2022. The open house took place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. prior to the 6:30 p.m. council meeting.
The event was a community affair as Portage employees, council members, residents and their families took tours of the renovated city hall building. Mayor Lynch and council members personally welcomed friends, family, and constituents into city hall and took them on tours throughout the building.
A long awaited project that the mayor was determined to see to completion, the City of Portage began work on converting the old firehouse attached to the city hall building on Central Avenue in the heart of downtown Portage during August of 2021. The project was well deserved since city hall hadn’t received such an extensive and needed update since the 1960s. At first, city officials planned to continue working at city hall during the remodel, but the discovery of asbestos displaced city hall employees who began working from Woodland Park in December.
Although grateful to share the space with park employees, Mayor Sue Lynch was back to be home at city hall. She stressed the importance of building a space to represent the city and where elected officials can meet to do their work. Previously, city hall only had one conference room and council members often had to host meetings at other locations throughout the city, which inconvenienced other departments. Now, Portage officials have three dedicated conference rooms to work to better serve their constituents.
“It feels wonderful to be back,” Mayor Lynch said. “It is so important that the elected body have their own space to work, and I am so happy for our residents. This is their home, too.”
Brian Gulley, Portage Councilman representing District 4, shared the same sentiments as Mayor Lynch. He notes the importance of community, visibility, and common area to meet the public’s needs.
“It is good that the city council is back in city hall where we belong. It gives a different aesthetic if we are here. It shows we are here as a check and balance for the mayor as we are able to be in the building together,” said Gulley. “Having our own home so people can come in and meet with us and know we are always here is important. All the meetings will be here. There is less ambiguity of where and when meetings will be.”
Mayor Lynch and the council also highlighted updated ADA accommodations throughout the building so that all Portage residents have access to the building as they deserve. The City of Portage added three ramps to the building to ensure accessibility and ADA compliance. An elevator was added so that all persons have access to the second floor of city hall. Railings were raised to ensure safety on the second floor, and entrance doors feature ADA compliant buttons to open doors automatically.
City Hall is excited for many more convenient features for residents at the updated building. Residents have access to the clerk treasurer through a converted vault that now has a window so they may pay their city utilities bills at the front of city hall with ease. Those that are unable to make it to city hall during business hours will be happy to know that a kiosk has been put in place at the front doors to be accessed after hours. Residents may use this feature to pay their utilities bill. While the kiosk does not give back change if provided more money than the balance owed, residents will be happy to note that any change owed will roll over to the next bill. Residents will also find a reception desk at the front of city hall for their convenience.
With all of the helpful upgrades made to city hall, Mayor Lynch looks forward to seeing more residents take advantage of what city hall has to offer.
“I expect a lot of activity in this building,” said Mayor Lynch.
The City of Portage looks forward to utilizing the city hall as its home base in the future. Missed the open house? Take a look at the new renovations during business hours or even visit the building at the upcoming fourth of July parade in town.
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