The former Audrain Medical Cancer Center will soon have its lights on for the first time since Audrain County purchased the building.

The Mexico City Council authorized $136,727 worth of electrical upgrades to fully restore power to the facility, located at 711 E. Monroe St, during the Oct. 26 city council meeting.

The project aims to preserve the facility and support efforts to prevent recurring mold as preparations to renovate the site to support a new City Hall and public safety facilities continue. 

Drew Williford, deputy city manager, said the fiscal year 2026-27 budget provides $2 million for work associated with the City Hall/Public Safety Project, so the city has sufficient funding to cover the cost. 

Lumix Electrical, the city’s on-call electrician, provided estimates for materials and the full scope of work, which includes removing old electrical equipment, installing service equipment and conductors, concrete demolition and patching. The set up will allow for 

The proposal included two options for wiring — copper and aluminum. Staff recommended aluminum, which is permitted by code and the cheaper option, according to a council memo, submitted by Williford. 

The proposal was reviewed by city engineering staff, building officials and the City Hall/Public Safety Facilities project’s design team. 

“We had an electrical engineer actually join us on call to review everything where we got the entire layout shown, and they provided the green light,” Williford said, adding that the electrical engineer also agreed with the price. 

Lumix and city staff coordinated with Ameren to get a new on-site transformer and 1,600 amp service. Williford said Ameren already has the transformer and the project is expected to begin around Thanksgiving — just in time for the holidays. 

“The hold up will be some of the supplies that are needed by Lumix,” he said.