Jasper Library in hot pursuit of making 2016 referendum

The Jasper Public Library Board of Trustees is dedicated to have a choice for a new library for voters in the November 2016 election.

The library will likely have to take the proposal to the public for approval. Based on this self-imposed timeline, the board of trustees approved an amendment to their previous motion to move forward with plans for the Hoosier Desk building feasibility studies.

Originally, the board had pushed for the city and Jasper Arts Board to approve their portion of the proposed split cost for the engineering and conceptual studies. They also wanted information regarding the scope of the project by May 1. This would allow them to approve moving forward with the creation of an inter-local agreement between the entities involved and designating a lead organization on the project. Both are steps that need to occur as the process continues forward on the Hoosier Desk consideration.

The board agreed to pay 25 percent, not to exceed $15,000, for the plans in February. The Jasper Arts Commission approved a similar measure at their meeting March 3.

This left 50 percent of the estimated $55,000 cost of the studies being completed by Universal Designs of Ferdinand and Gamble Associates of Boston unfunded until the Jasper Board of Public Works approved paying for the remaining portion of the studies this past Tuesday.

The library board heard that although the board of public works had approved covering the remaining cost from economic development income tax funds, the common council would have to approve the expenditure as well. The council will meet next Wednesday evening at City Hall in the Council Chambers at 7 p.m.

To assist in moving the process along, the board approved board president Dean Vonderheide working with the city to complete the due diligence with the caveat the library would not pay more than the previously approved 25 percent or no more than $15,000 cap for the Hoosier Desk property studies.

The goal is to allow the process to move forward at a quicker pace rather than being slowed by calling special meetings or waiting for regular meetings.

During the discussion, the board also showed some concern that no other private party had been identified to develop the remaining portion of the building. The current thinking is that Jasper Arts and Jasper Library would each use about 25 percent of the building while the remaining 50 percent would be available for restaurants, boutiques and living space to be managed by private partners.

“Part of the issue I am having with this is are the uncertainty that are they going to get part of that three story building turned into apartments. Who is going to go in there,” board member Deborah Stemle said. “They say they want to put a little restaurant in there, but as my husband says, restaurants come and go. What is going to stay?”

Board member Pamela Catt reminded the board that is why they are looking at the building with the studies. “A nice new building would be ideal, but we need to pursue looking at it as a cultural center,” she said. “We aren’t looking at it as just a new library, we are looking at it as a whole package, if we can do it affordably. That is why we are doing the due diligence.”

Facing the potential delays with the city, the board also discussed pursuing a grant for the environmental studies of the former factory on their own rather than waiting for the city to figure out what entity would cover the remaining 50 percent of the cost for the combined studies. They took no action on the discussion.

The other option the board is exploring is to expand the library on the current property. They decided to continue to study that option as the Hoosier Desk building proposal moves through the various boards for approval.

Volunteers from the board plan on contacting the adjacent homeowners to determine how amiable they would be to selling their properties to the library for a potential expansion.

A study conducted of the property early on — the library has been exploring an expansion or new building for over 10 years — determined several properties would need to be purchased to provide parking for an expanded building.

Adjacent property-owners should expect phone calls from members of the library board in the near future.