Chamber offices remodeled

The offices and visitors center of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce are considerably brighter, airier and more welcoming in the wake of a remodel by the Chamber's landlord - the City of Sisters.

A public works crew ripped out carpet that had been in the building for at least 20 years, since the building housed the Sisters Library.

"We tore out all the existing carpet and there was a ton of floor plugs for the library. Gutted all those," said public works director Paul Bertagna.

Bertagna reported that the carpet was glued down like the installers meant business. It took four men to yank on it till it came up.

New public works crew-member Gus Johnson led the installation of engineered hickory flooring.

The building, which got an exterior paint job last year, got a new coat of interior paint and new lighting.

The painting wasn't in the original budget, Bertagna said, but was included when it became apparent that they could do it and still come in under the $19,000 budget figure. The funds for the project came out of the City's general fund.

A second phase of the project is planned. Public works crews will open up the west wall of the facility and install French doors to tie the building in with Fir Street Park. New deck and ADA ramps will also be constructed between the Chamber building and the old Maida Bailey building directly behind it.

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 291 E. Main Ave.