Truesdale aldermen have decided to delay plans to expand city hall. Split on the need to do a sizable expansion or build only two rooms, aldermen voted 4-0 to not go forward with the project following a lengthy back-and-forth exchange at last Wednesday's meeting. Just before the vote was taken, Alderman Rhonda Colombo tried to make a motion to construct two rooms for the police department followed by a second by McGee. City attorney Tim Joyce, however, ruled that the motion was too ambiguous and needed to be rephrased. It was then the board voted to end the yearlong discussion. "If we can't come to a agreement on this, I guess it's nothing," Colombo remarked. Discussion on the city hall project began more than a year ago following a request to make more room for the police department and possibly an area for storing city records. Earlier this year, preliminary cost estimates provided by Cochran Engineering to build a 1,300-square-foot addition to the north of the existing city hall would cost $286,219.20 or $211,579.20 for a 1,080-square-foot expansion. The price drops to $196,900 for a 1,170-square-foot addition to the west of the current structure. City officials also previously discussed converting the city garage or shed into the police department, but balked over the logistics and price to make it feasible. However, the board has never been able to agree on the size, cost figure or area to expand city hall. "I think building a couple of rooms is a waste of our money," Alderman Shalene Blackwood said. "We need to do it or not do it." Mayor Murray Bruer and Blackwood both believe the city could save money in the long run due to the current economic climate and taking care of the city's future needs. "Two rooms added on here is not cost-effective, I don't think," Bruer said. "You have to do it right the first time. You have to do a 25-year plan. In 25 years, (the board) addresses it again. That is my feeling. "If we're going to do it, I think we should do it the right way." Colombo agreed more room is needed, but contended the city can't afford to take out a loan to help pay for the project due to declining sales tax revenue and the loss of businesses. The city has budgeted $250,000 for the project, but was considering a low-interest loan, Bruer said. "We're in a recession," Colombo said. "We don't have Warrenton Copper here anymore. We don't have businesses coming in with sales tax. How are we going to pay the bill?" McGee was in favor of keeping the city hall as is or building the two rooms for the police department. "I think we can cut our expense down," he said. "That is my opinion. I don't think we need something so elaborate. We can add a couple of rooms on like the original plan. I see that would be plenty." Blackwood also voiced concern that McGee voting on the issue is a conflict of interest. McGee lives on property to the west of city hall and previously was against an expansion because of the closeness city hall would be to his property. For now, Bruer remarked his office could be used by the police department as an interview room or for storing files and evidence. Police Ken Black said it would only be a temporary solution. Discussions could be reinitiated next year should the economy turn around. "Maybe we can bring it up later," McGee said. Tax Rate Decreases in Truesdale The 2009 tax rate in Truesdale will drop nearly a nickel. The board voted 4-0 last Wednesday to approve a tax rate at 66.86 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation. The 2008 levy was 71.29 cents, a drop of 4.43 cents. The tax rate is broken down as follows: 64.90 cents for the general fund and 1.96 cents for debt service. In 2008, the levy was 65.42 cents for the general fund and 5.87 cents for debt service. The total assessed valuation in 2009 slightly increases to $18,969,264 from $18,510,596. The projected real estate valuations are $11,243,117 and the estimated personal property valuations are $7,726,147. Officials are projecting just $293,030 in assessed valuation for new construction and improvements, a drastic decrease from the 2008 figure of $2,373,745.