MASON — Construction crews and city employees worked against the clock Monday to get the new municipal building ready for today's opening day.

        Dozens of workers attached wall paneling — made of anigre, an African wood — in the 51-foot-high central atrium and chipped away at other last-minute jobs. Meanwhile, many of the city's 135 staff members unpacked boxes in their new offices — when they could find their offices.

        “We're still wandering around wondering where things are, where people are,” city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal said.

Mason Mayor John McCurley looks over the main atrium of the building. | ZOOM |

        The building, at 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, is open to the public today, 3 1/2 years after planning began.

        “It's every bit of what we expected it to be and hoped for it to be,” Mayor John McCurley said as he toured the building Monday. He noted that the city did not raise taxes to pay for construction.

        The building will cost about $17 million — well under budget but still $3 million more than the year-old Warren County Administration Building. The two-story Mason building weighs in at 120,000 square feet — more than the three-story county building's 110,000 square feet.

        “It wasn't a contest, believe me,” Mr. McCurley said. “But we didn't want to have to do it again in 20 or 30 years.”

        The building replaces city offices in four locations, including the crowded, 63-year-old Municipal Building downtown. It will house Mason Municipal Court, the police and fire departments, and a new community meeting room — all city departments, in fact, except public works and public utilities.

        The building has more parking and is next door to Mason High School, which opened last month, and the city Community Center, which opens in 2003.

       City offices, at 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, can be reached at 229-8500. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The public is invited to an open house 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 12.

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