Old Highland city hall to be remodeled, made ADA compliant

HIGHLAND — After sitting vacant for nearly two years, Highland's old city hall will finally be remodeled for public use again.

The City Council voted Tuesday to fund a $65,000 upgrade to the decades-old building. It became noncompliant when new Americans with Disabilities Act regulations were established in 1990.

The Disability Law Center filed a lawsuit against the city in 2006, faulting the city hall with a bad wheelchair ramp and rails. The suit was eventually dropped when Highland built a new city hall in 2008 in the town square, an ADA-compliant $4.5 million facility.

Highland awarded a bid for remodeling the old city hall in late 2009, but with a new mayor and two new City Council members at the helm, the council opted to retrofit after funds could be allocated for the cash-strapped city.

Plans have been discussed to use the building as a community center, hosting events, recitals, senior activities and arts classes.

The Highland Arts Council has been particularly interested, seeing it as a place for plays, dance and art classes, and musical performances.

Remodeling on the building on 10400 North will begin later this month.

— Amelia Nielson-Stowell