MASON — City Council on Monday took an important step toward the construction of the municipal center by hiring nine contractors for work worth $10.4 million.

        “This lets us start the project,” city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal said. “We expect to see earth being moved out there by next week.”

BY THE NUMBERS

The new municipal center will have an estimated:     • 50,000 square feet of roofing     • 2,500 cubic yards of concrete     • 500 tons of steel     • 28,000 square feet of brick

        A total of 17 contractors eventually will be hired for the project, which is scheduled to be completed by fall 2002. The building will accommodate the needs of the city for 20 years without expansion.

        Mason's current city building was built in 1939, when there were about 1,000 residents. Today, Mason has more than 22,000 residents.

        “It's crowded, departments are scattered, and that inhibits our ability to serve residents,” Mason Assistant City Manager Eric Hansen said. “This is an opportunity to build a city building that will set the future for this city. We'll be in a better position to provide service to residents.”

        The 120,000-square-foot building will bring back under one roof the engineering and building, fire administration, public works, public utilities, and parks and recreation departments.

        There also will be meeting rooms for community and council use, expanded areas for the public, and a service desk where residents can transact business with most departments in one stop.

        Dugan & Meyers was hired earlier this year to oversee construction of the municipal center on Mason-Montgomery Road. The $1 million contract with the firm said construction costs will not exceed about $19.9 million.

Alliance looks to doctors for savings
New data lift spirits of school officials
CPS could rise in state categories
Key measure of city's stability is lagging
Restaurants to stay open for fests
Community searches for new direction
Luken may get GOP foe after all
Artists paint the town red
Safety plan formed for road where youths died
Article focuses on local growth
Bank robber held door for customer
2000 census undercounted gays, advocacy groups contend
Court hears expansion foes
Covington agrees on site for jai
Death of boy stumps authorities
Farmers market joins Dry Ridge outlet stores
Ford gives Ali $5 million
Highlands Middle School panel OKs dress code
Houseguest: Man told how he would kill wife
Human services director resigns
Man accused in fatal beating of girlfriend
Man gets 16 years for spraying acid on 4 people during argument
Mason hires contractors for new municipal center
Mound project transfer questioned
Opposition voiced to YMCA in park
Oxy makers sued for woman's death
Panel votes not to require offering uninsured motorist coverage
CROWLEY: Politics
Senate looks to restore funding vetoed by Taft
Stamps revisit baseball's classic fields
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report