Posted: 3/24/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
The saga of the new North Branch Area Library might work well into a book titled, ěThe Library That Moved Too Much.î
Monday night, March 22, the three members of the North Branch City Council attending the meeting moved to change the library site from north of the cityís fire hall to an area south of the hall.
This action came about during discussion of approval of a preliminary and final plat for the Williams Addition, which is the area surrounding the fire hall.
The recommendation to approve the plat was received by the council from the cityís planning commission.
It was noted, however, in the PC minutes, that that commission ědid not necessarily agree with the decision to locate the library north of the fire hall since this location would prohibit expansion of the fire hall at that location.î
However, the PC felt the library site was not an issue of the plat which created two lots and four outlots.
In discussion Monday night, the council expressed frustration with the countyís fast timeline and felt that more time was needed to properly site the new library.
Councilman Rodney Lofquist said it would be best if the county could just give the city the money for the library. Within a year, he said, the city could have a suitable site.
Mayor Gloria Karsky said she wasnít comfortable with the location on the north; she said she thought the best planning would have the library on the south side.
City Administrator Joe Lynch reminded them that the county wants to go out for bids with three buildings at once. He also noted that Chisago Lakes might not meet the March 31 deadline the three cityís were given for site approval and Wyoming was having issues about parking.
From the audience Barbara Burrington said she talked with a member of the library task force who relayed that the architect said it would add considerably more costs to the project to go on the south side.
Lynch agreed there would be some additional costs but he said he believed the architect did say the south side would be best.
Both locations, he noted, are about the same size.
Being short of council members this week, Mayor Karsky seconded Lofquistís motion to change the site to the south side. The action requires that the plat go back to the planning commission for a revision.
PC member Kurt Liebenow, present at Mondayís meeting, said it was important that the right site is chosen. He preferred the south site at this location, but also suggested that other sites, including downtown locations, still be considered.
City Planning Director Alan Cottingham will take the plat back to the PC now and approval will come later.
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