MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council unanimously approved to call for bids for construction of the city hall complex project.

At their retreat meeting last month, council discussed how the current economic climate is affecting construction costs and how it would help them obtain lower bids than they might receive in the future.

The project involves a 42,500 square-foot facility complete with community space, council chambers capable of holding more people with improved technology, city offices and space for a new Museum and Arts Center. The city estimates the project will cost about $9.2 million to build. The city secured a $1 million grant toward the cost of the project.

The city plans to award a bid in April and begin construction in June with a completion date set for July 2011.

Councilmember Richard Pearce motioned to go to bid for the project and Councilmember Bill Ecret seconded.

“Mr. Pearce, how long have you waited to make that motion?” Mayor Jon Lane asked.

“A long time,” he responded.

Councilmember Dick Deane said the project has been considered for the past several years. It’s an important time in the development of the community, he added.

“Mr. Pearce has been involved in the original floor plans that were discarded, or re-modeled, or thrown out or ripped up and there were bad feelings and then they came back and they tried to do it again,” Deane said. “Mr. Pearce has ridden through this storm and I think it’s only appropriate that we as councilmembers recognize his effort in supporting the good behavior and the quality things that our community strives to do — that he personally strives to do. The heart of the community has been in his heart and his wife’s heart since day one so I’m really pleased that you did step up.”

Pearce said he’s been waiting for the opportunity to get a more useful facility.

“I don’t know if this is official, but I think this will be my last term and I will have completed 20 years on the council,” he said. “I am really anxious to spend a couple months in the new council chambers,” he added with a laugh.

Lane said former mayor Ron Covey should also be recognized for his effort on the project.

“Ron was certainly one of the driving forces here most recently about (getting it) on the agenda and getting some of the preliminary work done so we could move ahead when the timing was right,” he said.

Council approved the motion.

Originally published March 11, 2010