‘Landmark’ Bank
Lyon County State Bank changes the look of its westside branch
By Bobbi Mlynar
Monday, October 30, 2006
A westside Emporia bank isn’t just getting a facelift; it’s going to undergo changes that could qualify it for the witness protection program.
“It’s going to be a major renovation,” said Tom Thompson, president of Lyon County State Bank. “We’re literally taking down all the exterior facades. (The current building) has a flat roof, it will have a pitched roof; the shed on the north end will be gone, we’re replacing the whole drive-through canopies ... We’re putting in a tower.”
The bank, at the northeast corner of 12th Avenue and Industrial Road, will have an exterior facing of brick and native white limestone.
“It will probably be two weeks before people really start seeing demolition,” Thompson said.
The City of Emporia approved plans for the project last week, and movement of some electrical lines and trenching across the driveway were scheduled to begin during the weekend.
Thompson said that changes on the west side of town — Dillons’ leaving, mall renovations, Walgreens coming in with a new building — made the time right for the bank to become part of the changes.
“We felt like it would help enhance the area,” Thompson said. “We want to reinvest back into our properties in Emporia.”
Project architect Dave Emig said that the exterior changes and the addition of the entrance tower would make the building “a landmark” in that part of town.
“It’s going to be quite a different appearance for the bank,” Emig said. “Changing the roofline and adding the tower is going to make it look like a brand-new building.”
Thompson said that the project, estimated at more than $300,000 will be done entirely by local businesses, including Mitchell-Markowitz as general contractor, Schumann Electric, Kolmer Concrete Flatwork and George Groh and Son Roofing and Sheetmetal.
The roof will be made of Lamerite, a relatively new long-lasting composite shingle that looks like slate. The multicolored shingles will have greens, maroons and other colorations in them.
“It’s supposed to be a 100-year roof,” Thompson said. “It’s pretty attractive.”
No changes are planned for the building interior, which already has undergone renovation, and the bank will not be enlarged.
“The footprint of the building is not changing,” Thompson said. “It’s just the exterior facade.”
The bank will maintain the 10 employees currently stationed at the westside branch, and all services will continue to be available.
“It’s a full-service facility,” he said. “Every service you can get in the main bank, you can get there.”
Three of LCSB’s locations are full-service banks, he said; the exception is the branch location on the Emporia State University campus.
Thompson said that despite the changes and renovations that have gone on in recent years at the banks’ locations, the basic philosophy and purpose of the local bank has not changed.
“We are the only remaining bank that has not changed its name since its original charter and the original charter goes back to 1913,” Thompson said. “Our charter is still the same, our name is not changed. We are not a branch of anyone nor do we have branches outside Emporia.
“Quite frankly, our philosophy has not changed. Our philosophy is to continue to serve the citizens of Emporia and Lyon County.”