GALLIPOLIS — Concerns were raised regarding the proposed new municipal building by members of the Gallipolis City Commission during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.

Commission Vice President Carroll Snowden questioned Commission President Jim Cozza about a meeting that took place Monday night, during which he had heard decisions were made regarding the new building. Cozza said that he did meet with the two newly elected commissioners, Matt Johnson and Jay Cremeens, as well as City Manager Randy Finney and Project Engineer Randy Breech, to discuss ideas or thoughts that Johnson and Cremeens have regarding the proposed structure, which has come under much debate during the last several months.

Both Cremeens and Johnson said they were in favor of looking into a two-story building, rather than the one-story building already being put to bid that did not garner the favor of residents attending a recent public meeting. As a result of Monday’s meeting, Breech was asked to create some proposal drawings of a two-story building with the structure’s length decreased to allow for more parking. The request was withdrawn during Tuesday’s meeting after it was pointed out that the proposal drawings would incur cost.

Cozza essentially said that he had sought the opinions of the commissioners-elect to see if the current building being put to bid this month would actually be built or if the bids would be rejected.

Commissioner Bob Marchi voiced his disapproval, citing the costs contractors incur when bidding on a project, which Breech said would likely be around $15,000. Johnson pointed out that the same thing was done with Davis Hall.

Marchi said at this rate the building would never be built and he hopes the current municipal building doesn’t fall down in the meantime.

Cozza said that they would go out with the bids, open them next month, and they’ll likely get rejected.

Marchi asked Breech to instruct contractors not to bid on the project.

In other action, commissioners:

• Suspended the rules to pass a resolution on its first reading accepting the amounts and rates determined by the budget commission of Gallia County, authorizing the necessary tax levies, and certifying them to the county auditor. According to the resolution, the rate of each tax necessary to be levied within and without the 10 mill limitation is set at 1.90 mills (inside 10 mill limit) fee producing $158,968.21 and 2.00 (outside 10 mill limit) fee producing $146,805.74.

• Passed an emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to issue permits to charitable organizations including the Gallipolis Police Department, the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire Department, veterans organizations, the Gallipolis Lions Club, and the Gallipolis Shrine Club to solicit charitable contributions from occupants of vehicles at the Wal-Mart plaza intersection on Eastern Avenue during the months of December.

• Passed an emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into agreement with the Gallia County Commission for payment of legal services for the city’s indigent citizens from Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2010 for the amount of $11,200.

• Donated $200 to the Children’s Center of Ohio for Christmas. It was noted that members of the group home recently helped put up Christmas decorations in the city and generally volunteer with Gallipolis In Bloom during the spring and summer months.