NORTH BEND — North Bend Public Library patrons soon may see workers on the deteriorating roof, as the City Council has approved a bid to do the work.

McMurray & Sons Inc., which has locations in Bend, Crescent City, Eureka and Grants Pass, will make repairs in early October. The $91,633 cost falls well under the city’s budget of about $200,000, because the company will be using a a lighter weight material.

North Bend Library Director Gary Sharp explained that a 50 millimeter polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, roofing membrane will be applied to the 20-year-old roof. The city originally intended to purchase 80 millimeter PVC.

However, the architect representing the city found that the lighter material worked as well and had a similar 15-year-leak proof warranty.

“It just made it much more cost effective,” Sharp said.

City Administrator Jan Willis added that the cost of the thicker material exceeded the city’s budget for the project.

The remainder of the money, raised through grants, as well as funds from the city, the library donation fund and the North Bend Public Library Foundation, will be saved for contingencies, Willis said.

Sharp indicated that Architect Richard P. Turi said dry rot or other repairs may need to be made.

“We won’t know the final cost until they finish the project,” Sharp said.

Sharp expects work to start after Oct. 6, following a pre-construction meeting. The contractor is to complete the work Nov. 15. 

“I’m very relieved. I was really worried that we would be delayed in some way,” Sharp said. “I think it’s really tremendous.”

He noted that roofing contractors who have made repairs have said one more wet winter could put the library at risk for serious water damage — both to the facility, as well as the collection and equipment.

“That way it will keep the building safe and dry and protect it for the next 15 to 20 years,” Sharp said.

The roof has been leaking for about two years. It became an issue in the winter of 2006, when leaks damaged a number of large ceiling tiles and caused two to come crashing down on the library’s magazine reading area on Christmas Day.

Once the project is completed, Willis said she will sit down with other key parties to disperse the remaining money or possibly leave it in the library’s donation fund.

Sharp added that even library patrons, including children, donated to the effort to make it happen.

“They were very generous, so we really appreciate that. I think people value the library a great deal,” Sharp said.