The City Hall Building Ad Hoc Committee estimated $4.99 million is needed to fully repair city hall Tuesday, according to 2017 reports from an architecture and construction management firm.

This includes more than $2.5 million needed for a H-VAC replacement, and $800,000 for a roof replacement on the northern side of the building, among the larger items.

“Specifically around the H-VAC option, that’s the biggest chunk of this so I will continue to take the time to make sure this is fairly accurate,” said Adam Yoder, council member.

For the most part, the changes in construction follows the consumer price index, or a statistical average in costs, but some new tariffs may have also altered the prices.

The report is a compilation of Reynolds Construction management and Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects. Other estimated costs of upgrades include: Various masonry, $50,000; accessibility wheelchair ramp, $150,000; bathroom upgrades, $250,000; elevator replacement $220,000, and others.

“I would generally agree with someone inside of the industry,” said Yoder. “They’re both pretty reputable firms.”

In determining the amount of space needed, should the city council choose to move their departments into a new building, the ad hoc building committee found that many had an abundance of unused area, said Jon Sander, a professional engineer with the city.

Of the 5,400-square-feet used by the departments, the survey concluded that 3,750-square-feet of usable office space would be sufficient.

The new space would need to have some additional space as the city and its services grow, said Yoder, rather than focusing on the minimum area needed.

“We need to make sure we still have space for growth, we don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves,” said Yoder.

The report did not calculate for public safety, but police Chief Damon Hagan said there has been headway in the potentiality of building a united public safety structure to bring together police, fire, emergency medical personnel.

That work is being done in another Ad Hoc Committee whose focus is on making the facility a reality.

“We have another meeting in August and are inviting the hospital and the county to that meeting for the purpose of talking about public safety building and also drafting an memorandum of understanding,” said Hagan. “We just need to make sure that all three entities are willing to communicate.”

Although private, UPMC Susquehanna is involved in the talks to bring ambulance services to the potential building, which may be somewhere north of the hospital facility.

Those three entities are needed for shared funding of a feasibility study.

“It would be much more efficient,” he said. “It’s essentially a 40 to 50 year decision rather than a Band-Aid for the future.”

The building would also accommodate the county coroner, the city codes department, Special Emergency Response Teams and some court staff.

The City Hall Building Ad Hoc Committee is currently in the process of touring both the Trade and Transit buildings and the Third Street Plaza, but had no further updates.