Seven Dowagiac Union Schools employees will be vacating the Wolverine administration building and moving into City Hall at the end of Main Street Friday, Oct. 14.

When the move is complete Monday, Oct. 17, the municipal building will likely become known as the Dowagiac Government Service Center, housing City of Dowagiac administration, utilities, police and Dowagiac Union School District administrative offices. Under a memo of understanding City Council adopted Monday night, the lease will be for five years with automatic renewal unless a 90-day termination notice is given.

Rent will initially be $14,000 per year with annual adjustments for changes in custodial, utility and property insurance costs.

Over the past several years, the city explored a variety of shared services with area governmental entities.

When in the interest of both parties, Dowagiac entered into shared-service agreements to help reduce costs and improve operations.

Recent examples include agreements with Cass County Road Commission and the City of Buchanan, as well as a fuel agreement between the city and school district.

“Over the past several months, we have again been working with the school district as we work through the possibilities of the school renting space at City Hall for their administrative offices,” according to City Manager Kevin Anderson. “Why? Because the city and the school administration both have fewer administrative staff, there is unoccupied space at City Hall that, with relatively minor modifications, can work for the school and the sharing of costs is good for all of the taxpayers and rate payers we serve.”

“This is a leasing of space,” Anderson continued, “not a merging of operations. There will be space exclusively for school offices, space exclusively for city offices, as well as shared space of bathrooms, conference rooms and break rooms. Where appropriate, some office equipment will be shared when it makes sense for both of us.” The Wolverine Building needs capital repairs and is less energy-efficient than the 1997 City Hall.