Just which part of Cedar Rapids city government should go where? Vets Building or old federal courthouse?

CEDAR RAPIDS - Just what part of city government is going back to the Veterans Memorial Building, the longtime home of City Hall on May's Island, and what part is going to the former federal courthouse on First Street SE just down the block might start to become clearer this week.

One decision that will need to be made quickly is where the City Council chambers will be.

The options for the council chambers seem to be two: A return to the fourth floor of the Vets building, in quarters remodeled in recent years; or a move into the large, third-floor courtroom in the old courthouse.

 Mayor Ron Corbett said on Monday that his preference is to move the council chambers back to the Veterans Memorial Building, but, he adds, he's not sure what his council colleagues will decide when they discuss the matter at their meeting on Tuesday evening.

In a tour in March of the old federal courthouse, which the city takes ownership of in a swap for land on which the new federal courthouse is being built, some on the council liked the idea of using the large courtroom for a council chambers. The historic courtroom comes with a federal requirement that it not be cut up or significantly altered, which is not the case with the existing council chambers in the Vets Building.

One thought has been that a part of city government might be able to get into the old federal courthouse more quickly than back into the Veterans Memorial Building, and if so, the council at least could hold meetings in the courthouse courtroom for a time.

Corbett said the council chambers may be ready to occupy in the Veterans Memorial Building by February if the council decides that is where it wants the chambers to be.

For his part, Corbett said he also would like to see the city manager and the City Council return to offices on the third floor of the Vets building.

The Des Moines contractor, Neumann Brothers Inc., is the project manager for the renovation of both the Vets building and the old federal courthouse. The Veterans Memorial Commission is participating in the planning for the Vets building, but not the old federal courthouse, Corbett said.

The renovation of the Vets building is being paid for in large part by disaster funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The project also has received state I-JOBS funds.

The renovation of the old federal courthouse is being paid for by state I-JOBS funds. The federal General Services Administration fixed all of the building's flood damage before handing the building over to the city.

The council now holds regular Tuesday meeting at Hiawatha City Hall.