MAR LIN - The addition to the Norwegian Township municipal building is complete.
"It's a step into the future," said Supervisor Bob Kirwan as he stood in the lobby of the building Monday.
The work began in August and was finished Dec. 15, costing about $196,000. The new addition features a 600-square-foot meeting room, with the old meeting room being converted into an office and a lobby area. A sliding glass window and a door separate the office from the general public.
The old office room where supervisors and the township secretary had their desks is now the office for the planning and zoning department.
The bid for the project was awarded in June for $222,955, but the scope of the project had since been reduced.
Township Secretary Marie Horner appreciated the extra space. The office now has lateral files for storage.
"This is good because you can access it from the side," she said while standing near the filing cabinet.
On a tour of the building, Kirwan showed where some files were kept because of a lack of space.
"This is where we kept our files," he said after opening a door of a room that houses two oil tanks and filing cabinets closed off from a main storage area.
New office furniture was purchased for the building, including four new desks and faux leather chairs.
Office hours will continue to be from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.
"Marie is going to be the official tour girl. She doesn't know that though," Kirwan said jokingly.
Kirwan said township residents who have stopped by have liked the new look.
Township resident Jim Santai, 66, was there to pay a bill Monday morning and liked what he saw.
"It's nice," he said.
