Construction of the earliest permanent Poplar Bluff City Hall was completed in 1902 in the 300 block of South Broadway.
The two-story brick building held city offices, the police department and fire trucks on the first floor, with city council chambers and a firefighter dormitory on the second floor.
The location is now the site of the Poplar Bluff skate park, said local historian John Stanard.
By the 1976, the building was in poor condition and city officials began to look for other alternatives.
The issue was so divisive for city residents, that the city manager form of government was challenged in a ballot initiative by 1980.
Three city hall bond issues had been voted down by that time, with building proposals of between $750,000 and $1.85 million for a building of up to 30,000 square feet, according to Daily American Republic articles from that time.
At the time, the building was too small to house the city's fire trucks, had windows covered with plastic to keep out the cold air, and the structure shook whenever the fire alarm was sounded to deploy fire trucks, according to historical accounts.
In 1981, fallen ceiling plaster was photographed in a remodeled finance department because of roof problems.
A fourth city hall measure failed in 1981.
By 1982, city offices had temporarily relocated to 211 S. Broadway, city directories show.
The Second Street complex that currently houses city council chambers was purchased in 1989, by then city council members Calvin Rutledge, Danny Whiteley, Ron Black, Joe Sullivan, Ernie Richardson and Mark Massingham.
It was comprised of the original Lucy Lee Hospital, built in 1925, and McPheeters Clinic, opened in 1959, as well as other buildings.
By November 2013, then-city manager Doug Bagby said this building was "beyond repair," and the cost to fix problems with the Second Street complex exceeded the price tag of a new or retrofitted building.
The city needed to start planning for this, he said in a budget message for fiscal year 2014.
Turmoil within the city council, and the firing of Bagby, meant the matter was not raised again until after a new city manger was hired in August 2014.
Newly hired Heath Kaplan began looking at temporarily relocating city hall, police and city court.
In October 2014, portions of the ceiling were collapsing throughout the building, with elevated levels of mold found in the city hall break room and city council chambers.
A city hall feasibility committee made up of city officials and citizens began meeting in 2015, weighing a variety of options for new and renovated buildings.
The police department was relocated to leased property in April 2015, and city hall operations in the fall of 2016.
Architects provided estimates of $80 per square foot to renovate space for either the police or city hall offices. New construction estimates of $140 per square foot for police and $120 per square foot for city hall offices were also given.
Renovation costs and new construction costs also had to be weighed within the cost to acquire property, if new site was chosen, the committee said at the time.
Dille and Traxel estimated total renovation of the existing Second Street complex would top $9.5 million in May 2015.
Department needs of under 57,000 square feet were identified.
They priced total new construction costs for the three departments at $8.56 million.
Renovating Northwest Medical Center for the police department was also considered at this time. These expenses for the police department were tallied at $2.56 million, less than the cost to build new, architects said, but they also noted road access issues.
Prices to renovate the Black River Coliseum, the Broadway Street parking garage, former Doctor's Hospital and former Kinyon school for city hall were also discussed.
Because of potential budget issues, in late 2015 an estimate of a $6 million building at Second Street was compiled. It sharply reduced space for the three departments to 40,000 square feet, offering an option to build on later.
In August 2016, current city manager Mark Massingham recommended utilizing the Second Street property for a new building, receiving support from the city council in November.
By the summer of 2017, the public was told the city council was considering other locations again.
The council voted 4-3 in August to move to pursue a contract for Northwest Medical Center on Barron Road, with support from mayor pro tem Susan McVey, council members at large Ron Black and Steve Davis, and Ward 4 representative Philip Crocker. Mayor Ed DeGaris and members Robert Smith and Barbara Horton were against the motion.
A purchase price of $3.495 million is included in the proposed purchase contract.
City council members have not presented renovation plans, and an estimate discussed in August of $5.595 million has been disputed by some.
The cost of removing the Second Street complex is not included in these figures, and has also been the subject of debate.
The city is pursuing financing of $8 million.
The city court and city council chambers are still located at the Second Street complex.