New Edinburg City Hall opens after more than one year of delays

EDINBURG -- It's funny how the smell of a new building and a little extra sunlight on the floor so easily puts smiles on employees' faces.

"It feels good," said Frank Garza, Edinburg's assistant city manager. "It's a very professional-looking building for the most part. It's like a journey that you finally got there and you're settled in and it helps your train of thought."

City employees moved into the new City Hall at 415 W. University Drive two weeks ago after almost a year of construction delays.

The Edinburg City Council approved the contractor's first delay on the roughly $7.6 million building in August 2007, pushing back the deadline from December 2007 to February 2008. The council then approved an additional extension in May that pushed the move-in date to the end July.

Then Hurricane Dolly hit July 23, causing a water line in the roof to break and soak the carpet and walls.

Edinburg City Councilman Gene Espinoza said as far as he is concerned, no action is expected to be taken against the contractor for the delays.

"I'll be honest with you. I was just so concentrated on getting us moved in," Espinoza said. "The contractor has always been available to us, always answered a phone call. I don't think it was a matter of him not wanting to do it or dragging his feet on purpose, because the lines of communication were always open."

A message left with the Edinburg-based contractor, Enriquez Enterprises, was not returned.

Top city officials stress the new building gives city residents more room and easier access to pay water bills or obtain birth or death certificates.

A drive-through window for residents to pay water bills is expected to be open by the end of the year, according to City Manager J.J. Rodriguez. Kuhn Street needs to be extended and additional landscaping completed before the city has its official grand opening.

The first City Council meeting is set to take place in the new building Tuesday night.

The old City Hall at 210 W. McIntyre St. will be converted into the city's emergency operations center and expanded fire department with the help of a federal grant, Rodriguez said.

Edinburg resident Aracely Zavedra was at the new City Hall on Thursday afternoon and said she liked the size of the new facility and the sunlight.

"It's beautiful," she said.

____

Jackie Leatherman covers Hidalgo County government and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4424.