The Midlothian City Council took on a major question during Tuesday night’s regular meeting: What will happen to the existing City Hall once the new one opens later this year?

The mood among councilmembers was in favor of demolition of the building to create more parking and expand Heritage Park, once the new City Hall and Library opens across the street Nov. 17. But formalization of the old headquarters’ fate will take place at a later date.

In a related item, councilmembers discussed and tabled a professional services contract with the Parkhill firm in the amount of $418,250 for design and engineering costs associated with the Heritage Park expansion and downtown improvements.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Wickliffe favored expanding Heritage Park and adding more parking in the area, and councilmembers Mike Rodgers and Hud Hartson also advocated using the space for downtown parking to help businesses. Newly-elected councilmember Ross Weaver said maintaining the building would result in ever-increasing maintenance costs.

Wickliffe added that downtown construction is currently taking away parking spaces, and the longer construction takes place, the more businesses are being hurt.

Assistant City Manager Clyde Melick said the current City Hall building contains a number of items that would need to be removed. Melick suggested a live auction to get rid of the contents in a short period of time, with local nonprofit organizations getting the first choice. Historical memorabilia would be preserved, of course, Melick said.

In discussing the design contract, Weaver said it was too soon to make a definitive decision on what to do with the space, because construction downtown could alter the city’s needs in a short time.

City Parks and Recreation director Heather Dowell said the contract would create a concept master plan of the area that would provide a cohesive look with the rest of the downtown area. The redesign of the park is also part of the design process, Dowell said.

Dowell said the area would conform with the city’s downtown master plan and comprehensive plan, and several workshops and public meetings would be scheduled to receive input into its design.

Councilmembers Anna Hammonds and Allen Moorman were not present.

Other items

• A ceremonial oath of office was given for Weaver, who had previously been sworn in at a special meeting earlier in May; and Wickliffe was renominated as Mayor Pro Tem.
• The approved consent agenda consisted of previous meeting minutes and a Midlothian Downtown Business Association request to expend $9,000 of municipal hotel/motel tax monies for advertisement and production expenditures for the 2024 Midlothian Heritage Day Festival.
• Following a public hearing, the council amended the city’s tax abatement policy to provide for a tax exemption for qualifying child care facilities.