Alamo Debuts New City Hall, Police Headquarters
Alamo was in celebration mode Monday, March 25, as the new City Hall and adjoining police headquarters debuted to the community in an open house event attended by citizens and dignitaries from Wheeler County and beyond.
Mayor Pam Lee welcomed guests, including Andrew Young, Jr., assistant to Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, as well as local officials and guests from neighboring counties.
City Manager Jeff Floyd spoke about the process that created the community centerpiece on Main Street. “We started planning in 2021, but demolition began at the site in 2023,” he said, adding, “We began with a budget of $600,000 and ended with a budget of $1 million, which we under spent by $8,000. The cost includes everything you see here, including the furnishings,” he commented. The project architect was Fred Dean of Vidalia and Pro Construction of Macon was contractor.
The building that was renovated and redesigned to accommodate the new City Hall has a rich, historical legacy. It has been a part of the downtown landscape for over 100 years, serving as a grocery store and later as a pharmacy; the building next to it, which was rebuilt to accommodate the Alamo Police Department, was once a popular diner. Old photos on the walls of City Hall’s council meeting room tell the story of not only the building, but also of Alamo, which was founded in 1909.
Among those who were recognized for their efforts in making the new City Hall a reality were members of the Alamo Strategic Alliance Plan (ASAP) Committee. Chair of the committee and Councilwoman Patricia Woodard thanked the individuals who donated their time and expertise: Mayor Pro Tem Dondrea Geter, and citizens Sandra Brown, Joshua Simmons, and Lee Ricks.
“Our Mayor and City Manager, and my fellow Council members have always supported this project. We built it not for us, but for you and your children,” she told those in attendance. She said of the patience and cooperation required to work together to make a difference, “My Daddy always quoted Dr. King: ‘If you can’t be a highway, be a path. If you can’t follow the sun, follow a star.’ We have the very best leadership in Alamo and we are proud of it.”
Members of the ASAP Committee and architect Dean were given engraved cutting boards to commemorate the occasion.
A poignant moment was shared when Alamo Police Chief Karen Zanders honored the memory of Alamo Police Officer Dylan Harrison, who was working his first shift for the department when he was shot and killed in front of the City Police Department on October 9, 2021.
Following a ribboncutting ceremony, guests streamed inside the complex to view the administrative offices, Council chambers, new Magistrate’s Court, and police headquarters.
