Shelley City Hall to close in part and limit services for 2 weeks for covid-19 remodel

SHELLEY – On March 1, Shelley city hall will close its doors to walk-in customers for approximately two weeks.  Its vehicle registration window will be closed during this time.  The closure is required so a remodeling project can begin making the building safer for customers and so the city can meet the State’s mandate of social distancing.   The closure will last approximately two weeks.

The city clerk Sandy Guaydusek recently publicized this statement: 

“Great news! The Shelley City Hall will be remodeling to accommodate our customers better.  So, beginning March 1, 2021, our office’s Titles and Registration Department will be closed for approximately two weeks.  City Hall will remain open with limited access to maintain safety for our customers.  You may drop off your utility payments in the dropbox by the front main doors, pay online, or call by telephone to pay.  Please keep in mind that using a debit or credit card when paying will charge you a fee by the host.  If you need assistance in person, please call 208-357-3390 when you arrive at the back of the City Hall building, and we will come to the door to assist you during this time.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We are so excited for the chance to serve you better.  Thank you for your understanding.”

Several months ago, Shelley received approximately $152,000 of covid-19 relief funding through the State.   This funding came from a federal bill providing covid-19 relief to States and their communities to be used at their discretion.

The city used $34,000 to construct temporary plex-glass panels at city hall and to purchase laptops and pads for employees working at home. 

Of the remaining $118,000, the city council decided to use $67,000 to renovate the inside of City Hall.  This renovation will create a lobby for people waiting to register their vehicles.   It will also include a new entryway.  “The lobby will allow a [queue] line to be formed allowing people to be social distanced,” Gaydusek said.

At present, customers are routed through the council chambers to meet the State’s social distancing measure.  

“A temporary barrier had to be created in the council chamber to keep people’s children from running all over the room,” Gaydusek said. “This chamber should be a respected room and be available for various meetings throughout the day.  It can’t be when we have people in that room standing in line during regular business hours. We need to get the chamber back in order.”

The remodel is to include new cabinet tops and flooring.  The building’s lobby and the secretarial area will feature LVB-style flooring, which looks like wood but is not slippery.  The council chamber will also be recarpeted.  The entire project will be completed within two months. 

Wind River Construction will do the remodeling job, Gaydusek said.