Contributing editor
When Kim Roland was a teenager, she would go to County Bank in Cecilton.
"It was an old timey bank building. The bank tellers were way up high," said Roland.
Many years later, Roland, Cecilton's town clerk, works in the former bank building, which was built in 1924. The town received the deed from County Bank in December 1987 and moved the town operations there from a much smaller building across the street.
But Roland said it's not as challenging as it was when the town and library shared space in a smaller building. Back then, the town building was open just two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 4 p.m. The library was open those two days and also on Wednesdays.
Cecilton's town hall was built around a vault. And even though the building is now public, the vault remains.
"We've done energy upgrades here, but the vault is always cold. The walls are not insulated," said Roland. The vault is no longer secure, the combination has been disabled. Instead of money, it now houses plans and town records.
"The plans for Parklands and Frisby's Meadows are in here. The infrastructure plans, town manuals and financial records are also stored in here," said Roland. The water and wastewater reports, insurance information, and cancelled checks are also stored inside.
"We don't work in the vault. It's too small. When students come here, they always want to look inside. The kids are fascinated by the vault," said Roland.
Roland said the former bank as a town office works fine.
"It still works nicely. We converted closets in the back for CCSO (sheriff's deputies). Brenda (town administrator) has space where she can close her window and door if she's dealing with personnel matters. We've upgraded the air conditioning and the lighting. Eventually, we will replace the windows," said Roland.