Price tags may decide Civic Center planning
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo Changing Face? The El Campo City Council is considering a range of changes at the Civic Center which opened in 1989. Aside from a new roof and air-conditioning system, the Council is looking at major changes to the lobby, upgrades sound systems and even a new facade.

"It all depends on the bill," Councilwoman Gloria Harris said Tuesday of proposed renovations at the El Campo Civic Center.

During the evening workshop, Council developed a wide range of wish list items from the basics of roof and air-conditioning to auto-flush commodes and stateof the-art sound systems.

No cost estimates are available, however.

And cost will be the determining factor, Harris and Mayor Phillip Spenrath said.

"Nobody has decided anything," the mayor added. "We haven't decided if this is going to happen."

The El Campo Civic Center is scheduled to be closed August through October to allow for a new roof and air-conditioning system to be installed along with possible other renovations.

City Council currently has allocated $1 million for the project, but can add to that figure should it so choose.

The 41,170 square-foot building opened as a K-Mart in 1979 and still has the same roof and air-conditioning system. The city opened the building as a Civic Center in 1989 after the El Campo Rotary Club renovated it with several years of fundraisers. It replaced an old World War II-era USO frame building where part of the current EMS Department is now located.

General plans for the renovation also call for new lighting and flooring throughout the building as well as a vestibule or second set of front doors leading into the lobby.

RWS Architect Malcolm Gaus, who is acting as the city's consultant on the planning, told Council during the Tuesday workshop, however, that he hadn't factored the cost of clearing asbestos glue from under the current floor tiles into initial estimates.

Looking At The Lobby

The current lobby redesign calls for the elimination of the northside display case in favor of the creation of a small office as well as new decorative flooring.

A vestibule is also planned with additional doors to help trap conditioned air inside the building.

"It creates an airlock to control the movement of air," Gaus said.

Eliminating just one display case in the lobby would create a lopsided appearance, Councilman Anthony Collins said.

"I'd rather see a separate entrance to the museum," he added (Please see related story).

A new facade is also in the works, but Gaus said he didn't want to say anything about that until he has drawings. It won't look like the new El Campo Middle School, he promised Council.

Main Hall

The air-conditioning revamp will eliminate the infamous circle air drops in the main hall ceiling which can produce frigid conditions directly underneath while barely cooling the entire room.

"The round air vents go away," Gaus said.

New flooring would be designed with a pattern complimented by new ceiling tile and a rounded edge, more decorative stage.

Inside the main hall, two possible ways of further dividing the room are being examined as well as a larger and more rounded stage, new sound system and a dance floor.

Two columns will be added to help support a roof beam.

A/B & Duson Rooms

New lights, flooring and ceiling are planned along with a coat of paint.

In the Duson Room, a new audio/visual system will be explored along with the possibility of new furniture.

While the majority of Council said they'd like to see plans for extensive renovations, Harris expressed concern.

"There's no need doing all this stuff, unless you charge more and I don't see you doing that," she said.

City Council hopeful Henry Dornak Jr., pointing to floor tile, questioned the possible costs.

"This tile is not too bad. I have a problem with you spending money on a lot that you ought not to," he said. "This town is not super rich."

But changes are needed Council hopeful Jimmy Roppolo said. "We need something to modernize it."

Restroom Improvements

Meeting Room C will be eliminated in favor of additional women's stalls near the front of the building.

Council is still debating whether other restrooms need a facelift or if a "family" restroom should be added.

Tuesday, Council members also requested cost estimates on auto flush units.

Other Plans

More doors have also been worked into the design to allow the building to be compartmentalized when only one section is in use.

There are currently no plans to do anything with the kitchen area, Gaus said, although some council members asked for estimates.

Harris issued a warning.

"It is not cheap to fool around with this room. Everything in here is very expensive. Leave this room alone," she said.

Gaus told Council any changes would require the city to be in compliance with regulations for food handling and cooking areas.