10.PRSR 04-14-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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At this ~~rar~, there's i „~#h~ tt~ check ot~t By Darlene Prois Star Tribune Staff Writer For a definition of "confu- sion," look into Waconias new library. But dotit look for it in a book. There aren't any. There isn't any heat or elec- tricity, either Although the other tenants of the ciy's new $12 million downtown proj- ect moved into sparkling new offices and cozy apartments last mondt, the library space remains empty, cold and dark, thanks to disagreements 6e- tweencity and county officials. City Administrator Susan Amtz said the city has always been cleaz about what it would provide for the new library, a branch of the Carver County system. She said the city as- sumed responsibility for the WacDnia reads aconia hopes to open a new I~r handle growing numbers of .,.,«.,..... 99 '00 01 '02 '03 Source: Carver County Library System exterior of the building .and agreed to contribute $175,000 toward finishing the 11,920- squaze-foot interior space. DISPDTE continues on 69: -The Library Board has a different understanding. Darlene Prois/Star Tribune Although the other tenants of Waconia's new 512 million downtown project moved into their offices and apartments last month, the space far the library remains empty. DISPUTB iFrom Bl Board planned to include many specializedfeaticres That's not exacdy how the Library Board understood the agreement, said Carver County Library Director Melissa Brechon. The Library Board had expected to use the $175,000 allowance from the city for spe- cializedlibrary features, includ- ing heavy-duty carpet, lighting and acoustics, not basics such as heating and electrical sys- tems and walls. "With little screaming kids on one side and people trying to read their newspapers on the other, the acoustical treatment of a library needs to be handled differently," said Anne Carlson, president of the Library Board. "We paid $63,000 in azchitectural fees, and we cant use the plans because the city wont put in what they originally agreed to." Those plans aze part of the problem, according to Arntz. The library architect specified heat- ing and electrical configurations that were considerably more involved than a basic plan, she said. City officials aze unwilling to pay an estimated $125,000 or more to bridge that gap. Representatives from the city and the Library Boazd will meet Monday to attempt to resolve the issue. In the meantime, book lov- ers can continue to use the city's small, crowded library on Elm Street. Last year, there were more than 67,000 visits to the 2,800-square-foot library, Brechon said. The library had originally,haped to move into its new home this month, but Brechon estimates it could take three or four months to finish construction if a deal is reached with city officials. For [he city, acceptable altemadves include trimming costs by adjusting the Library Board's plans or making the new library smaller. "Our goal is to put a library here," Amtz said. "But if we cant resolve the issues, the City Councff has given me authority to look at other alternatives." Darlene Prnis is at dprou @starhibune. co m.