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NB adds $69,000 to fund repairs on library roof
By Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
NORTH BEND — Nearly 125,000 books, periodicals and other media may soon be spared from water damage, thanks to several grants and a $69,000 contribution from the city of North Bend.
At a hearing Thursday, the Budget Committee approved funds to repair the North Bend Public Library’s failing roof. Those monies, totaling $204,000, include the $69,000 from the city’s Capital Project Fund, $25,000 from the Library Donation Fund, a $25,000 grant from the Collins Foundation in Portland, $10,000 from the North Bend Public Library Foundation, and two pending grants worth $50,000 and $25,000.
The budget not only meets the expected cost of roof repairs on the library, located at 1800 Sherman Ave., but also resolves an issue between the city and the North Bend Public Library Board over a trust given to the library in early 1997.
The issue was raised when Library Board Chairman Tom Hibbert asked repairs be made with grants and city funds rather than with the more than the 10-year-old trust from Raymond A. O’Daniell. Hibbert argued that O’Daniell’s approximately $578,000 trust had been intended for capital improvements that enhanced the library.
“When he gave that money, he wasn’t thinking about repairing the roof. He probably was thinking about expanding services (and) providing better library services for the community,” Hibbert said Monday. “The city interpreted it one way, and the library board interpreted it another way.”
The solution approved at the budget hearing doesn’t touch the remaining $225,000 of the O’Daniell trust, said Matt Zook, the city’s new finance director. He replaced Juana Bell earlier this month.
“No money towards the project is coming from the O’Daniell donation,” Zook said.
The O’Daniell funds were last tapped in 2001 to expand a portion of the library’s children’s room and to build a bathroom and staff workroom.
Zook explained that the funds to repair the roof come from two different areas — the city’s Capital Improvement Fund and the Library Donation Fund, which contains grants and donations.
“It would be like paying it out of two checking accounts,” Zook said.
Hibbert said he and other members of the board are content with this decision because it means the roof will be repaired without going against O’Daniell’s wishes.
“It was the city’s building, it was the city’s roof. The city should maintain it and replace it,” Hibbert said. “I’m happy with the agreement we finally reached.”
Plans for the roof include cloaking it with a polyvinyl membrane that comes with a 20- to 25- year warrantee. North Bend Public Library Director Gary Sharp said he would like repairs to start this summer or in early fall.
“We’re having leaks in most areas of the building, especially the public areas and the meeting room,” Sharp said. “We need to protect the building. We cannot allow any severe water damage to prevent us from providing public services.”
Despite the resolution, the library and city aren’t out of the rain yet. Two of the grants — $25,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation and $50,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust — have not yet been awarded. Without that money, Sharp said more grant proposals would be written and the library will pursue fundraising locally.
However, he said he believes the library has a solid chance of getting the funds. Sharp noted that the city won’t begin accepting construction bids for the project until at least one is received.
“We are just being patient and waiting for their response,” Sharp said, adding he expects to know more in May. “I think we do have a good chance for it.”
Library Board member Rachel Koski, who serves with the Friends of the North Bend Public Library and also has worked with Sharp to write grants, said fixing the roof is crucial to the future of the library and the services it provides.
“As the library is an important part of the community, moving forward with this project benefits the people of North Bend,” Koski said.
A self-proclaimed lover of the library, Koski added she is pleased with efforts on the part of the library board, foundation and the city to make it happen.
“We really all are working together on this project,” she said.
The North Bend Public Library Foundation is accepting donations for the roof project. For more information, those interested can call Dave Laird at 756-7164.
At a hearing Thursday, the Budget Committee approved funds to repair the North Bend Public Library’s failing roof. Those monies, totaling $204,000, include the $69,000 from the city’s Capital Project Fund, $25,000 from the Library Donation Fund, a $25,000 grant from the Collins Foundation in Portland, $10,000 from the North Bend Public Library Foundation, and two pending grants worth $50,000 and $25,000.
The budget not only meets the expected cost of roof repairs on the library, located at 1800 Sherman Ave., but also resolves an issue between the city and the North Bend Public Library Board over a trust given to the library in early 1997.
The issue was raised when Library Board Chairman Tom Hibbert asked repairs be made with grants and city funds rather than with the more than the 10-year-old trust from Raymond A. O’Daniell. Hibbert argued that O’Daniell’s approximately $578,000 trust had been intended for capital improvements that enhanced the library.
“When he gave that money, he wasn’t thinking about repairing the roof. He probably was thinking about expanding services (and) providing better library services for the community,” Hibbert said Monday. “The city interpreted it one way, and the library board interpreted it another way.”
The solution approved at the budget hearing doesn’t touch the remaining $225,000 of the O’Daniell trust, said Matt Zook, the city’s new finance director. He replaced Juana Bell earlier this month.
“No money towards the project is coming from the O’Daniell donation,” Zook said.
The O’Daniell funds were last tapped in 2001 to expand a portion of the library’s children’s room and to build a bathroom and staff workroom.
Zook explained that the funds to repair the roof come from two different areas — the city’s Capital Improvement Fund and the Library Donation Fund, which contains grants and donations.
“It would be like paying it out of two checking accounts,” Zook said.
Hibbert said he and other members of the board are content with this decision because it means the roof will be repaired without going against O’Daniell’s wishes.
“It was the city’s building, it was the city’s roof. The city should maintain it and replace it,” Hibbert said. “I’m happy with the agreement we finally reached.”
Plans for the roof include cloaking it with a polyvinyl membrane that comes with a 20- to 25- year warrantee. North Bend Public Library Director Gary Sharp said he would like repairs to start this summer or in early fall.
“We’re having leaks in most areas of the building, especially the public areas and the meeting room,” Sharp said. “We need to protect the building. We cannot allow any severe water damage to prevent us from providing public services.”
Despite the resolution, the library and city aren’t out of the rain yet. Two of the grants — $25,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation and $50,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust — have not yet been awarded. Without that money, Sharp said more grant proposals would be written and the library will pursue fundraising locally.
However, he said he believes the library has a solid chance of getting the funds. Sharp noted that the city won’t begin accepting construction bids for the project until at least one is received.
“We are just being patient and waiting for their response,” Sharp said, adding he expects to know more in May. “I think we do have a good chance for it.”
Library Board member Rachel Koski, who serves with the Friends of the North Bend Public Library and also has worked with Sharp to write grants, said fixing the roof is crucial to the future of the library and the services it provides.
“As the library is an important part of the community, moving forward with this project benefits the people of North Bend,” Koski said.
A self-proclaimed lover of the library, Koski added she is pleased with efforts on the part of the library board, foundation and the city to make it happen.
“We really all are working together on this project,” she said.
The North Bend Public Library Foundation is accepting donations for the roof project. For more information, those interested can call Dave Laird at 756-7164.
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