Welsh officials move into new building
After spending more than 40 years in a cramped, overcrowded City Hall, the town of Welsh has moved its offices.
Welsh officials began moving into its new City Hall in the former Capital One Bank at 112 South Adams this week.
“The old City Hall was built in 1973 and served its purpose at that time, but as time went by we realized it wasn’t built very big,” Mayor Carolyn Louviere said. “We have gone from 1,200 square feet to 5,000 square feet.”
The new facility will ease overcrowding for both town employees and the customers they serve, she said.
“We were very cramped for space and this opportunity just came up,” Louviere said. “We weren’t looking to do anything, but the opportunity was right for a good building with a good location and lots of features to offer our citizens.”
The old bank teller counter will provide individual windows for paying tickets, permits and utilities. The old drive through window will also allow customers to pay their bills without having to get out of their vehicles.
A larger lobby area, restrooms and more offices will allow for more work space, storage and better efficiency of operations, she said.
“I hope when people walk in they will think it is nice and hopefully in time they will get used to it and it will be a convenience for everybody,” she said.
In addition, she hopes moving City Hall to the main street will help promote businesses and improvements to the downtown area.
“This building set empty for two years,” she said. “Now it has a purpose.”
The town paid $185,000 for the building with available funds without needing a loan.
The Welsh Police Department, which is also in need of more space, will expand into the old City Hall on South Elm Street. The city council meetings and court will continue to be in the old City Hall.