By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE — A larger work space and increased security are two of the advantages of the Rogersville Water Department’s new business office, according to Water Superintendent Jim Bible.
    Work on the building, located on East Main Street at the site of the former city street department, is nearly completed.
    “The contractor still has some finishing up to do, but we will be in here and open for business December 1,” Bible said.
    According to the water superintendent, employees will use the day after Thanksgiving to relocate from the current, and much smaller, water office on West Main Street the department had been leasing.
    “In the old location we have a little over 700 square feet.  This building will have more than 2,000 square feet,” Bible said.
    Melinda Stapleton, a water department employee, noted the current office is so small that employees have to navigate around a copier to move from one side of the office to another.
    Bible said he worked with the employees to design the new office building, rather that work with an architect.
    “I came up with a design then asked the ladies who work in the office to help.  They know what the do and how things should be laid out to get the job done,” he said.
    The new building will have an entry lobby and security glass to separate the office workers from the lobby.  Individuals will be able to pay bills and talk with employees through the security glass or through the drive-in window.
    A steel door with an electronic lock will separate the lobby from the rest of the building, with an employee required to deactivate the lock to allow an individual to have access to the office space.
    “This building is much more secure.  It will have the “Cadillac” of burglar alarms and we will have “panic buttons” in case we need to contact the police,” Bible explained.
    In addition to office space, the building will have a room large enough for the water commission to hold monthly meetings.
    The location of the former street department property, on the eastern side of the city, was ideal for the new water department office, according to Bible.
    In addition to allowing for the office building, the property has room for equipment and vehicle storage.
    “If the city is going to grow it is going to grow to the east, so I think this is a great location for us,” he said.
    A public open house will be held at the new facility in mid-December.