(KNZA)--Renovation of the old Hiawatha Lodge motel, which has been vacant for a  number of years, continues.

Owner Mary Ananzeh provided an update to the Hiawatha City Commission this week.

Renovation of the old motel began last October, with removal of the dilapidated catwalk to the second-floor rooms on the south wing building, which the city had deemed as unsafe.

Ananzeh says they are currently working on the interior of the main building.  She says they have been painting, put up some new ceiling tiles and doing some repair work in the rooms. In addition, Ananzeh said they got some furniture for the rooms and put in air conditioners.

Ananzeh said they had hoped to be able to re-open the motel by Memorial Day weekend but the inclement weather delayed their plans, and now hope to be able to do so in a couple of months. “It’s a hard project, but...it's going to be really awesome once it opens. It’s amazing what we have done inside. Yes, its going to take some time yet. There’s some more work to be done. We have the carpeting to do and then will do the parking lot as well.”

Ananzeh sought approval of a license for MC Custom Welding, of Atchison,  who has been hired to construct the new catwalk.

The Commission approved the license as part of the consent agenda.

In other business, the Commission approved the hiring of David Wilson as the city’s new code enforcement official/building inspector at a salary of $17 an hour.

Wilson replaces Curt Clark who stepped down after holding the part-time position for a short time.