Moving in....

Town of Sparta occupies new office

Monday was moving day for the Town of Sparta.

Town maintenance workers and other staff members relocated fixtures Monday from the old Town Hall at 58 Main Street to the town's new headquarters at 304 South Main Street - the building recently vacated by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, as it moved to the renovated, former Lowe's Home Improvement store just south of Sparta.

Town Manager Tom Douglas said he expected the new Town Hall to be operational Tuesday morning. The Sparta Town Council held its last meeting at the old Town Hall location Aug. 6, spending much of the session on matters related to the town's anticipated move to its new offices. That included council's vote approving the lease agreement with the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce, which was to begin using the old Town Hall as its new headquarters once the town's move was complete.

During the meeting, Douglas said the move should be made by the end of this week. "The maintenance crew is 90 percent down there. All the furniture is there except one table and one desk," he stated.

The town bought the building in February to use as its new town hall and maintenance facility. The purchase price was $1,110,800, with the town paying half up front and financing the rest at 5 percent interest over about seven years.

Under the lease agreement for the old Town Hall, the chamber will rent the building for $240 per year. It will also be responsible for paying for utilities, upkeep, insurance and other expenses.

Council voted in April to approve the proposal in principle to lease the building. The lease agreement was afterward adjusted and finalized by CHANGING SIGNS - Bruce Younce (left) and Jimmy Hamby of Action Sign Co. install the new town sign in front of Sparta's new municipal headquarters Monday. The sign placement helped make the relocation official, as town operations moved two-and-a-half blocks south, to the former site of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation.

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