M'ville Civic Center opens to public

Marysville’s new Civic Center construction is complete and city staff has begun to provide service there for residents and community members.

The facility has been under construction for more than a year now and will provide a consolidated location for the Marysville’s city hall offices, court, police offices, community development and public works.

Various departments are still moving into the building, but customer service offices are available for the public now.

Previous facilities were beginning to get crowded for city staff.

“The city has grown and we had departments located in three to four different buildings,” said Connie Mennie, communications manager for the city of Marysville. “It wasn’t efficient for city workers and also it was confusing for members of the public."

Marysville officials had been planning the new facility for a couple of decades.

“When we were looking at one point, the city had looked at other city-owned property and was considering a new city hall where Grove Elementary is now,” said Mennie.

That plan didn’t work out, but the city returned to plans to build a new facility near Comeford Park.

“It’s been a pretty exciting opportunity. I think when people get here, especially the public, they’ll realize it was a good investment,” said Mennie.

The police, jail and court portions of the facility were paid for with the public safety tax that was approved by Marysville voters.

The other portions are meant to be subsidized by selling the other buildings that the city owns but no longer uses, such as the old city hall facility.

“Our monthly payments will remain the same as they were in the past because this is more energy efficient and we’re paying for one place instead of three,” said Mennie.

As of Oct. 19 the new Civic Center began accepting utility bill payments.

“Anything you need to do for utility billing or getting a building permit you can do at the Civic Center now,” said Mennie.

Those actions can be done in the lobby of the building.

“It’s a unified front counter so all of the customer service items are here,” said Mennie.

Offices for utility billing and community development are nearby on the first floor.

“Those are the people who have most of those kinds of meetings with the public,” said Mennie.

There will be a new City Council chambers as part of the building as well, which the Marysville City Council hopes to begin using Nov. 7, although they are waiting on some equipment which means that date may have to be pushed later into the month.

The new chambers has a workroom attached which can be opened up for community gatherings.

“If we use it for some kind of public function we can set out food and handouts,” said Mennie.

A balcony area connected to the chambers can also be opened to provide additional space.

A plaza in front of the new Civic Center is also capable of hosting events.

Marysville’s annual Sept. 11 ceremony was held there and a drive-thru trick-or-treat event will also be held there on Oct. 27.

Seating installed in Comeford Park will also help the plaza host events, which officials hope will be open soon.

Mainly the new bathroom facility needs to be completed.

“We do have a big event planned for Merrysville for the Holidays,” said Mennie, who added the park is expected to be fully open by then.

Staff is adjusting to the new building and excited for the additional space, said Mennie.

“City staff should be moved in by the end of October,” she said.

Once the Marysville City Council begins using their space in November, all local officials will be moved into the building.

Mennie said they plan to have an open house sometime soon, after all city staff are in the building.