West Fargo Staff Moves to New Digs – InForum

WEST FARGO — Throughout the day on Monday, June 3, a large truck appeared at the north door of West Fargo’s new City Hall at 2515 Sixth St. E., as staff from the city’s facilities department began unloading the truck, taking office furniture and other items into the newly leased space that will now house city staff.

Monday marked the first day the new West Fargo City Hall was open for business in the former WEX building on the North Side, south of Costco and north of the Rustad Recreation Center in West Fargo.

City Administrator Dustin Scott, whose office will be housed in the northeast corner of the second level, said the movers did an “amazing” job of blending the furniture in the former City Hall at 800 4th Ave. E.

As the public enters the building from the main parking lot on the north side, they are greeted by the Green West Fargo city logo and a receptionist behind two glass windows to the right. To the left are stairs to the second level, offices and cubicles—mostly left over from the former WEX company—for administration, economic development, communications, human resources, building inspections, engineering and IT.

Troy Becker/The Forum

On the main level are offices and cubicles for the finance department, billing specialists and appraisal staff. Each commissioner will be given a designated cubicle space, while the town hall will be located just behind the receptionist area. Although City Hall cannot be accessed directly from the main lobby, the proximity to the main entrance will allow the mayor to be easily accessible to the public, said Communications Manager Rachel Richter Lordemann.

A large open space is reserved on the main level for future committee rooms. Richter Lordemann said staff expects city commission meetings to continue in the current rooms inside the old City Hall and police headquarters at 800 4th Ave. E. by the end of this year.

On the east side of the main level is where a satellite library location will be added.

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

Richter Lordemann said about 60 employees will be located in the new city hall, but the more than 30,000 square feet of space has more than enough room to add additional staff if needed.

The city voted 3-2 in December to pay about $725,000 a year for a five-year lease on the building that will be subleased from WEX. WEX, a software company, has five years left on its contract with AMB Investments LLC. WEX downsized its office space to transition to a remote work model, leaving the building unoccupied for a year before the city lease.

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

The five-year lease breaks down to about $18.83 per square foot, or $572,432 annually, with options for the city to renew the lease after five, 10 and 15 years. An additional $150,000 in annual expenses, including taxes, specials, operations and maintenance, is added to the total annual cost. The city will have the option to buy the building in the future.

The city is in the process of converting the former City Hall into an expanded police headquarters. Last month, the commission voted to begin upgrading a space at the new City Hall in commission chambers.

The former building also houses the West Fargo Municipal Court, which at this time will remain on Fourth Avenue, as will the utility and court disbursement box. A new dropbox has also been added to the north side of City Hall. The box at the new City Hall is in place and can accept payments, and staff planned to add a sign to the box by afternoon to make it easier for the public to find the box.

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

“We’re looking forward to bringing all of the city’s staff into one building, and it’s great that we have the space to continue to grow,” said Mayor Bernie Dardis. “It’s a wonderful, modern space very centrally located in West Fargo and easily accessible right off of Veterans Boulevard. I invite the residents to visit.”

The building will be open to the public between 7.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

Officials said an open house with guided tours will be planned in the future once all staff have moved in.

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum

Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum