Library Board plans special meeting Tuesday to discuss cost-cutting options for new library

The first round of the library board’s efforts to cut costs of the new library were not anywhere near what is needed to bring the project within budget so the board will have a special called meeting Tuesday to continue the discussions.

The library board borrowed $700,000 to purchase the building that formerly housed The Vintage House Restaurant. The building cost $300,000. However, the renovation bids came it between $873,000 and $1.124 million.

At the Jan. 19 meeting of the library board, President Diane Mitchell said the board went over the items in the renovation page by page in an effort to cut costs.

“We talked about little things like the mill work, cutting on the costs of the sink and kitchen cabinets, leaving a storage room unfinished and allowances for different types of flooring,” Mitchell said.

Even with that, Mitchell acknowledged it was just a drop in the bucket, coming to about $25,000.

“It is nowhere near what we need to do,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell the contractor and architect will meet with the board Tuesday to see if there are any major changes that can be made without hurting the integrity of the building.

“It is going to be a while before we know whether we can proceed,” Mitchell said.

The board will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the library. The meeting is open to the public.