Sharon Township Hall Being Renovated Over Next Three Months

Interior of Sharon Township Hall.

Major renovations are happening right now at the Sharon Township Hall. After nearly 100 years of service, every aspect of the hall is being improved.

The exterior of the hall was refurbished earlier in the summer. Using a $19.135.00 Polling Place Improvement Grant from the State of the Michigan, the entrance and parking lot were improved to bring them in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Chelsea Mikel, the township clerk, had known for sometime that work needed to be done in order to make the building accessible. “The parking lot was narrow and gravel which the curent board considered a hazard for our residents—especially since we have an older population,” Mikel noted. “The front porch was cement that was falling apart.”

As a response, the township has had the parking area resurfaced, and had an entirely new entrance built. There is a handicap ramp, new decking, and a new doorway.

Back room office at Sharon Township Hall.

But it is the interior of the building that will see the most substantial transformation. The township has awarded $130,000 to Premier Contracting of Manchester to do the work.  Insulated walls will be built inside the brick structure. This will allow for insulation, drywall, and extensive wiring for electrical outlets throughout the interior. Currently, the main room of the building only has two outlets. The insulation alone will be an economic boon for the township. “You should see our bills,” noted Sharon Township Supervisor Peter Psarouthakis, shaking his head ruefully.

Additionally, new heating and cooling systems will be installed for the first time in decades, the kitchen will be entirely refurbished, the current wall separating the main room from the office will be removed. “We wanted the space to be more inviting,” Psarouthakis said of the wall removal. Now, when staff are at the desk, people will be able to see them immediately when they enter the building.

All of the renovations will yield more storage and office space. The building will also be a more practical space for community use. The new kitchen, the more consistent heat and cooling, and the expanded electrical access (as well as newly refinished hardwood flooring) will hopefully attract township residents who want to host events for the school, for clubs, or for other purposes.

Victorian Era township records uncovered in renovation.

The demolition and reconstruction have also turned up many historic records that the current government was unaware of. A trunk full of nineteenth century township records, including many written by hand, were uncovered. Even now, local historians are examining it to see what new light the material can shed on local history.

Renovations will be complete by October 31st of this year, just in time for the November elections. “It is the people’s house,” Psarouthakis said, looking proudly around him at the work that was underway.

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by Fritz Swanson

Fritz Swanson has written for The Believer, the Christian Science Monitor, Print Magazine, McSweeney's, Esopus, LSA Magazine, and The Mid-American Review. He serves as a trustee on the Manchester District Library Board. He's the designer and publisher of The Manchester Mirror.

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