Construction gets underway on new Paton city hall

By BRANDON HURLEY
b.hurley@beeherald.com

PATON — The concrete base is set and excitement throughout one Greene County town is brewing.

Paton is getting a new City Hall.

Initial construction began last week at the location just behind the public library at the intersection of State and Main streets.

The old Paton City Hall, which was physically attached to the rear of the public library, had run its course. It was outdated.

The new concrete base was poured and solidified early this week with finishing touches set for Friday.  The base structure will begin to take form next week.

The buzz around the quiet town has created a stir.

“Anytime you have a new building, there’s excitement,” said Paton city council member Judy Wilson. “We are on a roll here.”

Vaughn Bauer, of Bauer Built Manufacturing, who has already remade much of Paton, has been tasked with handling the construction.

The project has sparked the interest of the council and the town as well.

“It benefits us immensely,” Wilson said. “I’m a Paton native, I was part of the last class from Paton. My dad was a depot manager. I’m a big-time supporter of Paton.”

She’s also helped spearhead park projects and other beautification programs throughout the community.

Paton, a town of less than 300 in northeastern Greene County, is hoping to emphatically insert itself into a countywide makeover.

Paton factors heavily into Greene County’s Vision 2020, a sweeping, countywide development plan, in that it could be the site of innovative, 3D-printed workforce housing.

Paton could be the first rural area to introduce such housing.

A new City Hall is a perfect starting point.

“My motto is ‘Push for Paton,’” the 73-year old said. “We are a small county and we have to hang tough. It’s like in that movie, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ ”

City offices are temporarily located in a trailer across the street from the construction site, and are open from noon to 3 p.m. Mondays, as well as Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. To reach the city offices, call 515-968-4533.

No completion date has been set as construction workers dodge impending snow and inclement weather.

Details regarding cost and total dimensions were not available at press time.