LINCOLN – About 200 people toured the new Lincoln City Hall and fire station at the open house and ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday.

Both new buildings drew rave reviews from attendees as they walked through the “first-class facilities.”

“It’s my first time in the new City Hall — it’s beautiful,” said Joseph Stafford Rowser Jr., pastor of Pine Grove Baptist Church in Lincoln. “We’ve come a long way. This is one of the most beautiful facilities I’ve seen. You just walk in and feel proud. It’s a modern, first-class facility for a first-class city.”

The new City Hall and fire station are on Magnolia Street, where the old Lincoln Elementary School was.

Mayor Lew Watson said Sunday was a landmark day for Lincoln.

“I was here when the old city hall was built in 1975,” he said. “It’s been outdated for years now. We built this new City Hall looking to the future.”

Watson said the old city hall and fire station combined was approximately 4,500 square feet. The new City Hall is almost 13,000 square feet and features a large courtroom/council chambers, 14 offices, a conference room, drive-thru access and more. The new fire station is almost 12,500 square feet and can house all of the department’s equipment. Both new facilities offer room to grow.

“I’m very impressed with the new City Hall and fire station,” Sylacauga Mayor Sam Wright said. “I commend the city for building something to last a while.”

Nellie Henry, of Talladega, said the City Hall has an inviting appeal.

“I love the tile and the way it’s designed,” she said. “It’s an open concept. You can bring in more of the warmth and openness of the building.”

Henry said she is also impressed the city has reached out to partner with the surrounding community, including the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce, and the new City Hall is large enough and has extra rooms that local organizations can use.

“I remember when the old city hall was built,” Lincoln resident Marie Moore said. “This is so much more. The old city hall can’t compare to this new one.”

Moore said the City Hall is something Lincoln can really be proud of and the new fire station is amazing.

“Anyone would love to work in the new fire station,” she said. “It is so good our firefighters have a place like this to work in.”

Talladega County Commissioner John Luker said the City Hall and fire station create a phenomenal complex that the city can be proud of.

Former Lincoln Councilwoman Jean Burk, who was on the council when the city drew up plans for the new facilities five years ago, said with the growth of the city, the new buildings will take care of Lincoln residents.

“This is a dream come true, with many more visions to come,” she said. “In my vision, everything we do is to take care of the community and we will continue to grow.”

Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.