By Nakasia Logan
Georgetown’s Mayor and City Council face hurdles as the construction of the administrative building at City Hall remains incomplete, with progress stalled at less than 50 percent over two years.
According to Mayor Alfred Mentore, an estimated $109 million is required to rebuild the City Hall’s administrative building.
However, only $35 million has been expended to date, leaving a substantial balance needed to complete the remaining 60% of the project.
Mayor Mentore revealed that discussions to secure the necessary funds will occur during the upcoming Finance Committee meeting.
Emphasizing the council’s determination to advance the project, Mayor Mentore outlined plans to initiate a new public tender process to address outstanding construction tasks.
The council aims to allocate funds from the new budget cycle toward the project, ensuring sufficient resources are available for its completion.
Following a project suspension over two years ago, an independent contractor was engaged to evaluate completed works and identify outstanding tasks.
It was found that the initial contractor had been overpaid, with funds intended for elevator installation and other critical components left unused.
Phase one of the project included completing external walls, the ground and first floor, and installing electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, tiling, and painting.
Work on second and third-floor perimeter walls, windows, doors casting, elevator installation, and stairwell construction was also part of this phase.
The completion of the administrative building remains a priority due to safety concerns at the dilapidated City Hall building.
Workers have been relocated to safer locations within the compound and the Kitty Market while awaiting the administrative building’s completion.
Despite setbacks, Mayor Mentore and the City Council remain committed to seeing the project through, ensuring a safer and more functional administrative space for the city’s operations.