The town at the epicenter of August's earthquake is building up its downtown. Mineral hopes a new municipal building will spark a revitalization to spruce up the small town.
The new town hall was the biggest excitement in Mineral when crews broke ground on August 19. Four days later, the quake changed all that. But construction continued through the recovery and even finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
The town took advantage of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan and county funds to build the $738,000 office along Mineral Avenue. The 3,000 square foot municipal building is three times the size of the old town hall.
It houses Mineral's town offices and a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) select office. Each has its own space. In the old town hall, DMV customers waited in the same, single line as people doing business with the town.
Mineral Mayor Pam Harlowe hopes the new building sparks revitalization along Mineral's main drag. "It's modern, has all modern technology," she said. "It's really made a big difference on Main Street in Mineral. We hope it's the beginning of who knows what to come."
The town's council also has its first ever meeting space. Before, council met around folding tables in a church hall downtown.
The town is holding a dedication and open house on Wednesday, March 14 at 3 p.m. for the community to come in and check out the new building.
