GALLIPOLIS — Gallipolis City Commissioners voted 3-2 to pass the second reading of a resolution authorizing City Manager Randy Finney to advertise for bids for the construction of the new municipal building during their meeting Tuesday evening, making it official that the building will be put to bid.

Commissioners Caroll Snowden, Bob Marchi and Jon Lynch voted for the measure, while Commissioners Jim Cozza and Dow Saunders voted against it.

Prior to this resolution, Snowden made a motion that was seconded by Marchi and passed 4-to-1 to accept a modified floor plan that was viewed on Nov. 11 in order to meet the needs of Gallipolis Municipal Court. Judge Margaret Evans said the court will now have 6,700-square feet of usable space and agreed that her space needs have been addressed.

Project engineer Randy Breech said the building will now total 18,000-square feet, up from 17,400-square feet. Cozza informed the audience, which took up every available seat in the room, that just because the project is put to bid it does not mean construction will immediately follow. He said funding will have to be appropriated before building can begin. The commission will still have to wait 30 days before the project can be put to bid with the passage of this resolution.

The second reading of an ordinance to purchase the property located at 532 and 534 Second Avenue and 535 and 539 Third Avenue as well as Lot 3 in the Walter’s Hill Subdivision for $225,000 to be primarily used as parking for the new city building was not put to a vote during Tuesday’s meeting, though it was printed on the agenda. Following the meeting, City Solicitor Brent Saunders would not say why it was not addressed or if the ordinance would be addressed in the future, only that it had been “deleted” from Tuesday’s agenda.

In other action, commissioners:

• Refused Wilmington, N.C., resident Gary Greene’s request for privilege of the floor. Immediately after Greene requested the floor, Brent Saunders asked the commission to deny him the privilege because Greene had been prosecuted by Saunders in a criminal case that is now under appeal. Cozza granted Saunders’ request and Greene said that he could see that the First Amendment as well as the Fourth Amendment have no meaning in Gallipolis, at which point Saunders told him to have a seat or he would be dealt with by police. Greene ended up leaving the meeting on his own volition.

• Passed an emergency ordinance authorizing Finney to contract with D.V Weber Construction, Inc., for force main relocation as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s widening of Ohio 850 for an estimated cost of $52,685.

• Passed the second reading of a resolution authorizing Finney to advertise for bids for materials, supplies, equipment and services for city use in 2010.

• Passed the second reading of an ordinance to enter into a contract with Gallia County for equipment and labor, mainly general road work and dust control.

• Approved the October financial statement.

• Approved the appointment of Jonathan Elliott to the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department.

Action taken during the Friday, Nov. 13 special meeting included the following:

• Passed an emergency ordinance setting the following appropriations for the city during the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2009. The total general fund was amended from $4,550,747.04 to $4,534,682.79. Total special revenue funds were amended from $1,974, 239.79 to $2,233,732.53. Total capital project funds were amended from $2,100,828.97 to $737,730.07. Total enterprise funds were amended from $3,937,998.55 to $3,956,798.55. The total of all funds was amended from $12,920,519.75 to $11,813,649.34.

• Passed an ordinance setting the following temporary appropriations for fiscal year 2010: general fund, $1,282,250; special revenue, $698,758; capital improvements $2,070,000; debt service, $162,388; enterprise funds, $1,454,676; fiduciary, $2,300; all funds $5,670,372.

• Passed an emergency ordinance authorizing payment of a $500.00 bonus to all appointed officials and permanent full-time employees. The bonus checks will be passed out the first week of December.

• Passed a resolution authorizing the city manager to register Gallipolis as a participant in the 2010 America in Bloom contest.

• Passed an ordinance authorizing the city auditor to transfer or advance funds from various line items.

• Passed an ordinance establishing guidelines for use of money from the employee fund.