Library expansion project hearing held at council
The proposed Lake Benton Library expansion is illustrated above as presented during a Jan. 17 meeting.
By Dan Kuss
lbvalleyjournal@gmail.com
The Lake Benton City Council met in its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center/city offices.
The council reviewed and acted on the claims presented to the city and the municipal bar and also accepted recent rehabilitation grant checks which were presented for payment.
At 5:45 the council held a public hearing on the library expansion project in which several interestedLakeBentoncitizens, members of the Friends of the Library and library board members were in attendance.
There were no public comments made referring to the project, so Mayor Mike Carpenter asked Executive Director Heather Ulrich-Glynn to present an update on the project.
The city would add on to the library using USDA loan and grant money in addition to funds donated by individuals and a $2,500 promise from the Lake Benton Area Foundation from proceeds from this year’s Gala fundraiser.
An anonymous donor has offered $1,000 per year for the life of the 40-year loan.
Carpenter said the whole thing started when City Maintenance Supervisor Todd Draper jokingly asked USDA Rural Development if they had any grant money fornew citytrucks or tractors.
The USDA Rural Development people said they did not, but there was grant money available for libraries.
The project originally called for an expansion of the library to create more room before Carl and JoAn Burk graciously offered to donate the John C. Fremont Emporium in honor of Jack Burk.
Banner and Associates performed an extensive study to update the building for use as a library, but the project was cost prohibitive.
The Library Board and Friends of the Library group had also researched other buildings in town for use as a library before deciding to revisit and pursue the expansion project.
Citizens of Lake Benton turned out for the public hearing on the library expansion project at the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Motions were made on Feb. 23 and May 12, 2011 and the project was on the council agenda on April 26 and July 15, 2011.
A public hearing on the project was held last spring, though library committee members Barb Powell and Duff Trautman thought this hearing should be held to update and hear citizens’ concerns about the project.
A detailed letter to the editor cowritten by Friend of the Library Shawna Soderholm and Librarian Lisa Schardin was recently published in the Valley Journal to inform the public about the project.
Other fundraisers such as the Lake Benton Lions Club Benefit Breakfast have been held with proceeds going toward the public library, though they do not pertain to the expansion project and deal with other expenses the library needs help with.
Mayor Carpenter suggested the library board stay in touch with Trustees Powell and Trautman on the timing of accepting the donation of the lot and also with Executive Director Ulrich-Glynn on interim financing through utility funds.
Ulrich-Glynn said she needs to speak with legal counsel on some of these issues.
In other business, the council said the $130,000 2008 Street Project bills have been paid though the Water Utility funds and that the funds need to be broken down.
The amount is the same but the categories need adjustment.
The next meeting of the Lake Benton City Council will be on Monday, Feb. 6 with a lengthy agenda.
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