May 20, 2010

SUISUN CITY - The 82-year-old Veterans Memorial Building on Main Street is about to get a major face-lift and there is serious discussion going on about building a veterans memorial across the street.

'It is a very important project,' Solano County Supervisor and former Suisun City Mayor Jim Spering said during a presentation Tuesday to the Suisun City Council.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors has approved spending up to $1.34 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds on the building and its entrance area. The project is now out for bid.

Work will include modernizing the building's systems, improving security, painting the exterior and redesigning the front entrance to make the building more accessible to people with disabilities and give it more visibility in town.

New flag posts and street lamps flanking the hall's entrance as well as modifications to the sidewalks would be put in, Solano County Associate Architect James Bezek said.

Council members got a look at conceptual drawings that also included one vision of what a veterans memorial might look like next to the waterfront across from the veterans hall.

Unlike the building improvements, the proposed veterans memorial isn't yet funded.

'We will be working with the veterans groups to find the funding,' Spering told the council.

Suisun City Council members liked what they saw with Navy veteran and Councilman Mike Segala saying the improvements and the memorial was 'worth waiting for.'

'This is a terrific project to honor our veterans,' Councilman Mike Hudson said.

Work on the building is expected to start in late June or early July. The project is expected to finish in August 2011.

By Ian Thompson - DAILY REPUBLIC

CORRECTION: The report incorrectly states when the project will start. It is expected to start construction in January 2011. Solano County is funding the building renovation with $1.34 million from its Capitol Renewal Funds.