The Gila County Board of Supervisors and the Globe City Council, in meetings held two days apart, both approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the city and the county relating to the restoration of a historic property in downtown Globe.

The agreement, approved by the Board November 5 and the Council November 7, outlines each entity’s responsibilities in the renovation of downtown Globe’s Michaelson Building, located at 157 S. Broad St.

In 2019, the county and the city teamed with Freeport McMoRan’s Community Investment Fund to rehabilitate the building and launch Globe’s first co-workspace and business incubator. The space will feature offices with high-speed connectivity, community meeting rooms, business support resources, and a downtown visitor’s center.

Under the IGA, the county will plan for interior demolition and the remediation of remaining walls and develop a scope of work. The city will choose a qualified vendor, issue all property permits, take on design and construction inspection along with building code compliance, assign a project manager, and ensure compliance with Historical Preservation District requirements. The county and the city will work together to develop and approve a basic floor plan.

The Board of Supervisors also heard presentations on the contributions of Freeport McMoRan and Resolution Copper. In fiscal year 2019, Freeport put in $150,000 toward the cost of repairing the Michaelson Building roof, a part of the project that is now complete.

Resolution Copper contributed $150,000 to Gila County and $150,000 to the City of Globe for the renovation.