A nearly split Snoqualmie City Council approved the construction bid for its new City Hall at River Street and Maple Avenue, in Snoqualmie’s downtown district.

Bird Construction Inc. will build the city hall for a projected $4.9 million.

Mayor Matt Larson called approving the bid, about $1 million more than the council expected to spend on the building, one of the most difficult decisions the council ever had to make.

The roll call vote saw councilmembers Charles Peterson, Kathi Prewitt, Bryan Holloway and Bob Jeans support the new city hall, while Maria Henriksen, Kingston Wall and Jeff MacNichols voted against it.

“This is the first priority that we have to take care of today,” said Peterson, who advocated that the council dip into funds set aside to build the community center, but as little as possible, to build the new City Hall.