Geneva officials have approved $50,000 in funding to repair the James Street stairway entrance to City Hall.

Recently, when the asphalt shingle roof on City Hall needed to be repaired after more than 20 years, officials decided to base the style on what it looked like in its original 1912 appearance. A historic photograph from the Geneva History Center, dated 1913, helped determine what the roof looked like then.

Officials are doing the same with the steps.

“We have some historic photographs we are using as a basis for what was originally installed there,” said Karla Kaulfuss, Geneva’s historic preservation planner. “As changes have been made, we want to know how we can return it to its original appearance.”

Alderman approved hiring St. Charles-based Driessen Construction to do the job at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Work is expected to begin immediately and should take a week to finish.

“We’re very anxious (to get it done),” said City Administrator Mary McKittrick.