The City of Elsmere is looking into building a new city building which requires acquisition of property. Word got out prematurely to residents and because the city has not yet closed on the property it wants to buy, Mayor Marty Lenhof has issued this statement:
STATEMENT FROM ELSMERE MAYOR MARTY LENHOF
The City of Elsmere is in discussions with a local property owner regarding the purchase of property to build a new modern, larger and more accommodating city building – a project that has been discussed for years including during the implementation of the Elsmere Strategic Plan. Mayor Marty Lenhof
The proposed building would house city administrative offices, council chambers, the police department and an outdoor public area. It would replace two buildings – the current city building on Garvey Avenue and the police department on Dixie Highway – that are no longer functional and able to meet the city’s needs.
While final details must still be negotiated and finalized, there is no plan to raise property taxes to pay for a new city building. In fact, through the effective management of resources and tax dollars, for the second year in a row the City of Elsmere will be lowering the property tax rate.
Elsmere, its employees, elected officials and most importantly its residents have needed a new, more functional and larger city building for years. The new building will have high visibility, easy accessibility and expanded meeting space for the public to attend city council meetings. A major improvement for our residents will be the convenience of assessing city services and employees in one centralized location.
We look forward to sharing more definitive details and plans as the process moves forward.
