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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- With the restoration project complete, Ottumwa City Hall looks better than ever.

Over the last year, the building's Fourth Street entrance has been closed off and on for construction and repair. Much of the concrete was crumbling, which made not only the facade of the building unsightly, but the use of the stairs dangerous. With grants from the Iowa Jobs Program, the Fahrney Foundation and the city of Ottumwa, the historic building is restored from top to bottom.

"This building has a lot of significance for me, it's been a big part of my life for the last 14 years and as a child," said Ottumwa Mayor Frank Flanders. "I always admired its beauty, along with the rest of the Central Park area here with the library, the courthouse, the great civil war monument there, St. Mary's. It's a really good showpiece for our community and it's with great pride and happiness that I see these wonderful steps are restored to their original glory."

The building's original concrete steps were not removed, only repaired, to keep some of City Hall's history in tact.

Construction began on the building in 1910 and was originally used as a U.S. Courthouse.

Friday's rededication and ribbon cutting ceremony drew a large crowd of city officials and community members and included a special performance by the Evans Middle School Marching Band.