The New Library Joint Committee met on February 18, 2008, at 221 N. Main.  Committee members present at role call were Erin Varley, Denny Bauman, Tammy Shadlow, and Catherine Steward.

 

Shadlow moved to accept the consent agenda, and it was seconded by Steward.  All were in favor.

 

Shadlow reported to the Committee on her visit with Randy Cummings of Story Construction.  There were several challenges with the Boyd/Wright idea (the idea of remodeling 221 N. Main with an addition to the south to create a rectangle of 5,796)

¨       How to re-enforce the existing buildings during construction

¨       How to design the roof line so it doesn’t have to be redone during phase II (an addition of 3,204 square feet to the west).

 

Story Construction will put together some project estimates for the Boyd/Wright idea.  Shadlow also asked for costs for 6,000 square feet new construction for comparison purposes.  The numbers should be available for the next NLJC meeting.

 

Erin Varley updated the Committee on the land available at the Co-op.  The Heart of Iowa Co-op is willing to donate the building and land located at 229 East Ash for the new library project.  The Co-op plans to vacate the building this fall.  The lot would provide a location for the library that is not land locked.  Building the library there would fill another vacancy on Main Street.  It would be easier to get community and donor support.  The former hardware store would not have to be torn down.

 

Varley will meet again with the Co-op after the next meeting of their Board and report back to the Committee at the next meeting.  The Committee would like to know

1.    the amount of land available (lot size)

2.    what type of environmental study would be necessary

3.    are any changes in zoning required.

 

Varley stated that interest rates on bonds are lower.  The City will have some bonds paid off soon, so taxes won’t have to be increase as much as originally proposed.

 

The next NLJC meeting is set for March 31.

 

There was a motion to adjourn by Shadlow that was seconded by Varley.  All were in favor.

 

 

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