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Rumors are circling State Circle that the new entrance to the Miller Senate Office Building soon will be watched over by the bronze likeness of Mike Miller himself.

State and Senate officials say nothing like that is planned.

Workmen are completing a $468,000 project to beautify the Bladen Street entrance to the offices. The courtyard has been graded, some out-of-control plants removed, and new steps and fancy light poles have been added.

There's also a new handicapped ramp so wheelchair-bound citizens don't need to take a tortuous route through the adjacent James Building's basement to reach lawmakers' offices.

In the center is a square of marble, which looks a bit like it could serve as a pedestal.

The main function of that center area won't be to memorialize anyone. It's for drainage, said Sam Cook, director of the Annapolis Capital Complex for the state Department of General Services. Whenever it rained, water would pond there.

"I don't know there's any future plan for a statue, not in the current design," Cook said.

Of course, with the building to the right named for Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., the thought is that Miller will greet everyone about to pass through the metal detectors just through the doors. Down the street is the Goldstein building, which has a statue of former Comptroller Louis Goldstein out front.

Vicki Gruber, Miller's chief of staff, says no statue is planned.

Instead, there will be a decorative urn.