Posted: 7/14/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
People who come to the new North Branch library next year will be able to snuggle up with a good by by a fireplace, thanks to the city and the Friends of the North Branch Library.
Monday night the NB city council approved the final agreement with the county for the new 14,000 sq. ft. library to be built south of the new fire hall.
The city will be responsible for $161,300 of costs over the countyís $2.3 million cost to build it.
North Branch will cover the water and sewer connection fees of $97,000, pay for $25,000 in landscaping, pay the additional $11,700 in architectural and engineering costs incurred when the site was moved from north of the fire hall, pay $18,700 for a circulation desk and $9,200 for a bathroom by the childrenís area.
And about $10,000 for a fireplace. The fireplace cost is expected to be reimbursed by the Friends of the Library.
Mayor Gloria Karsky wanted assurance that the city will not incur any additional costs.
City Administrator Joe Lynch assured the council the city will not be responsible for the library bonds (county) in any way.
With an anticipated year-end library fund of $254,000, the council agreed to upfront the fireplace cost for the library contingent upon being reimbursed by the Friends group.
One additional cost for the city will be $35,000 by choosing to go with a rubber membrane roof system rather than asphalt. It is expected to last 40 years rather than 20-25. The approval is contingent upon the cityís share of the roof system cost not exceeding the $35,000.
City workers will be moving the contents of the present library. This is expected to save the county another $2,000.
The agreement, now approved, also gives the city the right to name the new library.
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