New paint on Douglas City Hall

Work is beginning on Douglas City Hall. This photo was taken Monday.

Work is under way on the exterior of Douglas City Hall.

The scraping, wood replacement and painting is expected to last through July, said Ryan Kilpatrick, community/economic development director.

The council recently hired Vander Meulen Builders of Holland to scrape and replace the damaged boards and paint the exterior for $33,000.

Paint is peeling off the wood outside the 137-year-old building known as Dutcher Lodge at 86 W. Center St. Douglas purchased the building for $60,000 in 1990 and it was condemned six months later. Renovations began in 2001 and government services moved into the building in 2002.

City Manager Bill LeFevere got bids for work on the exterior. Contractors went through the two-story building and assessed what needed to be done.

One firm listed the need to replace the windows, which are leaking, at $224,000. The siding needs to be replaced as well.

Council members know the quick work this summer won’t solve the problems with the building, but hope a new coat of paint will hide the problems long enough to get the building properly repaired in three to five years.

The city cannot afford the full fix now, LeFevere said, but can at least make the building look presentable while finding out what’s causing the paint to peel and wood to rot.

Here's the story from June: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x426170621/Douglas-OKs-quick-cover-up-to-hide-peeling-paint