Calling it, “a new beginning,” and the first step in “bringing city government back to Olde Towne,” Slidell Mayor Ben Morris announced Wednesday that construction on the new Municipal Building and the demolition of the storm-damaged University of New Orleans building will begin at the end of the month.

Ever since Hurricane Katrina, Slidell city government has been operating out of a series of trailers on Bayou Lane. The storm damaged the first floor of City Hall and made the Finance and UNO buildings uninhabitable.

After three years of negotiating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Morris was able to get FEMA to partially pay for the 30,000-square foot building, which is estimated to cost $4.35 million. Architectural and engineering plans were drawn up in January 2008, and now the shovels will start digging dirt at the end of the month. “It’s really exciting to finally get this underway,” Morris said Wednesday during a press conference in front of the empty lot where the building will stand.

The new structure will be the first of two municipal buildings to be erected around City Hall, Morris said.

However, before construction could begin, the city had to negotiate with the state on the purchase of the decrepit UNO building that sits behind the City Hall. Once that was done, Morris put out bids for the demolition, which will be done by a New Orleans firm, E.A. Biggs and Associates Inc. for $28,500. Demolition and construction will begin at the same time,Morris said.

The first government building will be built adjacent to the City Hall, with similar architecture. The second building will go behind City Hall.

FEMA has agreed to fund up $2.8 million and the city will pick up the rest of the cost $903,000 in insurance money and city funds. Morris said he was happy with the bid that went to S. H. Meyer Construction, also out of New Orleans, because it came in lower than the estimated cost.

“Cheaper is good,” Morris said.

The new building will be elevated 11 feet off the ground, with parking underneath the building. It will contain the Slidell City Council Chambers on the third floor along with council offices.

The building will also house the city attorney’s office, Finance, Personnel and Data Processing departments.

Morris said the city government will still be in the trailers for about another year. During the time of construction, the first floor of the City Hall will be refurbished with meeting rooms, but no offices, Morris said. The only office in City Hall will be the mayor’s on the second floor.

He expects to put out bids for drawings on the second municipal building within 60-90 days.