A Weekly Note from Mayor Gary L. Graham
“Traditional Values, Progressive Thinking”
We received several questions and comments from citizens regarding the Library Master Plan article that ran in the O’Fallon Progress in June. Below is a brief Q&A on how this project has progressed:
What was the purpose of the Master Plan?
When Vernon Ohlendorf left $2 million in his will for the O’Fallon Public Library, Library Director Molly Scanlan and the Library Board took a deliberative approach to determine how best to use the donation. A library consultant from the University of Illinois was hired to develop a 20-year Building Program for the future of the library. Then an architect was hired to conduct a Master Plan to determine whether the existing library could be expanded to correspond with the 20-year Program. The article reported on the architect’s Master Plan final report and recommendations to the Library Board.
What are the architect’s recommendations?
The architect’s conclusion is that it would cost too much to renovate the existing building for any expansion project to be cost effective. The exterior of the building is unique and distinctive, but the internal systems are old and failing: the roof, HVAC, windows, and skylights all need replacement and the building code requires that the mezzanine be enclosed for fire safety. Mr. Ohlendorf’s donation could be used to expand the current library but we would also have to upgrade the existing building and there is not enough acreage at the site to expand the building as the community grows. The architect’s recommendation is that a new library will need to be built to meet the requirements in the 20-year Program.
How will we pay for a new library? Will this raise taxes?
This is still very early in the process and no analysis has been conducted on how any of this would be funded. The report does not provide any analysis on how to pay for anything (taxes or grants or whatever). That decision will be ultimately up to the Library Board and the City Council. After the architect’s presentation, the Library Board accepted the report and subsequently approved the architect’s recommendation to conduct a site selection study to investigate alternate locations for a new public library and compare those costs to the costs for renovating and staying in the current location. This study does not obligate the library to do anything but is due diligence to identify all options and costs before making a decision.
How can I review the architect’s report?
The Library Board members want to be good stewards of Mr. Ohlendorf’s donation and are taking responsible steps to set the course of the library for the next 20 years.
The library is a wonderful asset to the community and we want to make sure it meets the needs of residents for years to come. The strong working relationship between City Hall and the residents we serve is yet another example of why O’Fallon is such a great community in which to live.
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