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| | Capitol Hill apartments reopening in time for session
Sunday, Jan 9, 2005 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A lot of lawmakers will be walking to work this session. That's because they are moving back into the Capitol Hill Building adjacent to the state Capitol after a 2003 session that saw them scrambling for places to stay while the building was closed. Some began the moving process over the weekend. The session begins Monday. The building was shut down in 2002 by former Secretary of State Sharon Priest for safety concerns. Repairs, costing in the neighborhood of $400,000, have made the building available for occupancy again, according to Secretary of State Charlie Daniels. Lawmakers, especially those who lived in the apartments in the past, say the proximity to the Capitol and opportunities to get to know other lawmakers make the reopening a good deal for the state. "You can get away (from the Capitol) and develop a lot of camaraderie," said outgoing Senate Pro Tempore Jim Hill, D-Nashville. "The convenience is just astronomical. I've lived in motels, outside apartments and even driven some back and forth over the years and nothing beats it. It's the best by 1,000 percent, no comparison," said Hill, who served two terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1996. In addition to location, the rent is inexpensive - $300 to $350 a month depending on the size of the apartment. Prior to the renovations, lawmakers paid $100 to $200 a month during the session. "It is extremely convenient for the members who live there, but probably the most important factor is that it is a central point where legislators can discuss the events going on," said former Sen. Morril Harriman, D-Van Buren, who served in the Senate from 1985 to 2000. "It's also an extremely useful building for constituents and groups from outside of Little Rock that might be coming to the Capitol to meet, have receptions or talk about issues," Harriman said. Sen. Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, who served in the House for six years before being elected to the Senate in 2001, also stressed the importance of the apartments. "House members don't have their own offices so they are great place to go to work, go back to and return phone calls," Johnson said, adding that some lawmakers bring in desks and other office equipment during the session. "They're also a great place to go back to and talk about the events of the day. You can firm up positions on issues or clear the air on disagreements," he said. The 79-year-old building has 48 apartments, but only those on the first five floors were ready for occupancy by Friday, said Cathy Bradshaw, chief deputy for the secretary of state. Work is still being completed on the floors six and seven, which are expected to open by the end of the session's first week. The old building, which in years past was a popular gathering place for lawmakers to smoke cigars, drink and discuss the issues, lacks many of the frills of most motel and hotel rooms, such as maid service. Rooms have little more than a microwave, refrigerator and a bed. Hot plates and stoves have been removed. "It's nothing fancy, but it's substantial enough," said Daniels, who will be the only constitutional officer with an apartment in the building during the session. The Joint Committee on Legislative Facilities decided to let Daniels live in the building with the idea that if there is a problem he will be immediately available to ensure repairs. Lawmakers living in the building in 2002 when it was closed were given first choice of whether they wanted to return to the building, Daniels said. The rest of the apartments were taken on a first come-first served basis. Eight senators and 39 House members will be renting rooms in the building during the session. Priest ordered the building closed after electrical problems were discovered. An engineer's report by a Little Rock firm had concluded that the building was a fire hazard due to wiring problems. Priest also said hot water pipes were springing leaks and rainwater was seeping through the brick mortar. The electrical lines did not meet code requirements and were dangerously close to the leaking water lines. There also was flooding in the basement and plumbing problems. Lawmakers, who liked the convenient location of the building, tried to get money approved for its renovation during the 2003 session but Gov. Mike Huckabee foiled that plan. The governor vetoed a section of an unrelated election bill supported by then-Speaker Herschel Cleveland, D-Paris, that would have provided $2 million to fix the apartment building. Huckabee said the expenditure was too high during a time when the budget was tight. The governor, who lives in the taxpayer-provided Governor's Mansion for free, also said taxpayers should not be paying for the housing of lawmakers. Last year, the Joint Committee on Legislative Facilities, which oversees the apartment building and staff offices and committee rooms inside the Capitol, approved the expenditure of $299,000 for repairs to the apartment building. The committee this fall released another $50,000 toward the renovation. Tony Minicozzi, director of the Bureau of Legislative Research, said the money was in the budget of the Committee on Legislative Facilities and available for such repairs. Daniels said he also approved the use of about $60,000 from his office budget for work on the first floor of the building, which will be available for rent by the public. The first floor includes a large meeting room with tables and chairs, along with a kitchen. "When Secretary Daniels assumed office, the building had already been closed because of environmental issues, such as mold and leaking on top and in the basement," said Janet Miller, a chief deputy for Daniels. "The first thing we did was waterproofing the outside of the building. We then had to go in and clean, rewire, replumb the building, replace ceiling tiles and paint." Along with Hill, other senators who are signed up to live in the Capitol Hill Building are: Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia; Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, Paul Miller, D-Melbourne; Jack Critcher, D-Batesville; Barbara Horn, D-Foreman; Terry Smith, D-Hot Springs, and Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville. Among House members who will stat in the building are Speaker-designate Bill Stovall, D-Quitman; Rep. Keven Anderson, R-Rogers, Stan Berry, R-Dover; Johnnie Bolin, D-Crossett; Travis Boyd, D-Piggott; Booker Clemons, D-Pine Bluff; Eddie Cooper, D-Melbourne; Ken Cowling, D-Foreman; Leroy Dangeau, D-Wynne; Marilyn Edwards, D-Fayetteville; David Evans, D-Searcy; Nathan George, D-Dardanelle; Kevin Goss, D-Wilson; Phil Jackson, R-Berryville; Janet Johnson, D-Bryant; Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville; Dewayne Mack, D-Kirby; Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia; Bob Mathis, D-Hot Springs; Wayne Nichols, D-Marked Tree; James Norton, R-Harrison; Mark Pate, D-Searcy; Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart; Betty Pickett, D-Conway; Randy Rankin, D-Eudora; Preston Scroggin, D-Vilonia; Scott Sullivan, D-De Queen; Chris Thomason, D-Hope, Chris Thyer, D-Jonesboro, John Paul Verkamp, R-Greenwood, and Shirley Walters, R-Greenwood. |
