Timeline in place for Charles City library development
After Charles City voters favored a bond referendum in last November’s election to borrow $2.5 million for the construction of a new county library, not much information about when the building process will begin had been revealed to the public. That is no longer an issue.
County administrator Zach Trogdon released a timeline for the library’s development during the county board of supervisors’ regular monthly meeting on Mar. 22.
“This is a process that we’ve been working on and we believe we have a firm plan in place,” said Trogdon. “I know the board wanted staff to look at a plan that was aggressive for the construction of the library and what it needed.”
The county administrator presented a timeline handout to roughly 30 people in attendance. On the timeline, the first issue to be addressed is incorporating the library into the county’s upcoming capital improvement plan (CIP) if $3 million is available in the budget.
From this upcoming May to July, a review of the building program and funding options and grants will be discussed. Trogdon said that due to some of the work done in the past regarding funding, it may expedite the process. He also explained the purpose of the building program on the handout.
“A building program is the guidance from the county and stakeholders to the architect or designer about what should be incorporated into the building,” the statement read. “The architect will confirm the program requirements through independent investigation. This task may be made somewhat easier as the county may be able to utilize the previous program and the facility alternatives study to speed up the process.”
An RFP is expected to formulate in August for architectural services, with a formal bid released this upcoming September. Architects are expected to be interviewed in October with the selection and contract awarded in November.
From January to March 2017, architectural submittals for the building will be reviewed by county staff. Construction bids have a tentative date of April 2017, with bidding commencing the following May. A contract for construction is targeted for June 2017 with an official groundbreaking in the summer of 2017. Trogdon concluded by saying that he hopes all construction for the library is completed by summer 2018.
After release of the information, a few citizens commented on the process and the timeline, pointing out areas of interest they’d like to see addressed.
“I hope the public is able to get involved,” said Bonnie Whitaker. “I hope we have public sessions to get their input on what this library needs.”
“In the past there have been talks about making this building the center of the proposed courthouse complex,” said Kevin Sullivan. “I hope the decision for the location of the library will keep that in mind.”
No definitive location has been named for placement of the building, but county leaders said they are happy to get the process underway.
“I am glad that we are taking an approach to push this project forward,” said District 2 representative Bill Coada. “I was thinking about the timeline of when to have this thing completed and this [document] pretty much sums up what I was thinking.”
Supervisors did not specifically say if they would hold any public hearings on the library, but added they would consider comments or suggestions prior to determining the building’s placement.