New Spokane Valley City Hall coming together, official says

The Spokane Valley City Council got a brief informational update on the construction of the new City Hall from newly appointed Deputy City Manager John Hohman on Tuesday evening.

“It now looks like a building,” Hohman said.

The building comes with a basement and the council considered turning part of the basement into a multipurpose room that could be used for large meetings and perhaps art shows.

Hohman said that turned out to be an expensive proposition – at more than $300,000 – if it was to be done as part of the construction project.

“We feel like it’s better to bid it out,” Hohman said.

Instead, for a little more than $3,000 the contractor will do preliminary installations of plumbing and wiring so the downstairs room is ready to be finished.

“That way we don’t have to tear into the walls later,” Hohman said.

The City Council also approved the placement of statues donated to the new City Hall by the Spokane Valley Arts Council.

Hohman said this will add a little more to the total cost, but underscored that the bronze statues are donated.

“We are not spending tax payer dollars on them,” he said.

The City Council gave it’s support of the sculpture plan, allowing the contractor to begin landscaping.