Lewisburg’s city hall and water department will soon be moving to its new home located on 431 North into the old skating rink Spinners.

The city purchased the property a month ago for $215,000. There is approximately 14,000 square feet in the old skating rink building which holds 2,000 square feet of office space and 12,000 square feet to be used as a community recreation center.

According to city clerk Angela Sweeney, the city had to get out of the older building on Stacker Street due to a growing black mold problem.

It would cost the city to much money to renovate the current city hall plus that wouldn’t alleviate the mold which is caused by the building's poor ventilation. There are several cracks in the structure which allow moisture to build up causing the mold to grow. It would be a costly venture just to get rid of the mold that is in the structure now and a lot more to seal the building which is currently not insulated.

The structure which acts as the community center now used to be the old fire department. It was closed in and converted by the Lion’s Club years ago. The club uses the room to meet as do numerous other organizations including the city for council meetings.

“Something has needed to be done for years now,” said Sweeney who has been Lewisburg’s clerk for 13 years. “We looked into tearing the current city hall down and rebuilding or possibly renovating but the cost would be way too much. The old skating rink will provide ample room for us and the community,” said Sweeney adding that the city will continue to rent the storage spaces so they will be getting in revenue they hadn’t before.

A drive-in window is going to be put in the new city hall to help accommodate people during bad weather. Sweeney said the city of Lewisburg has a lot of senior citizens who are afraid they may fall during the winter months having to get out in the ice and snow to come pay their water bills. This will be a great help to those who do not wish to leave their automobiles.

Another reason for moving is the gas bill. Sweeney said it costs the city of Lewisburg approximately $6,000 a year to heat city hall and the neighboring fire station. Sometimes, Sweeney said, the city has to fill up every month from December through March just to have enough gas. The cracks in the structure will not allow heat to stay in.

Sweeney said the city has poured money after money into the current city hall building and they don’t want to keep spending the taxpayers’ dollars on something that will never be fixed.

The community will be able to benefit from the purchase as well. Sweeney said there will be enough room for many events and meetings.

Lewisburg funded the purchase with money that has been sitting in CDs said Sweeney. They hope to be in their new home by the end of September.