Asking price known but not made public; board decides to appraise Hoosier Desk

Two important pieces of information were shared during last night’s three and a half hour work session by the Jasper Public Library Board of Trustees.

The board knows the asking price for the Hoosier Desk building but isn’t making it public yet. And, estimates to build at the existing site are comparable to adding a library at the Hoosier Desk.

According to board president Dean Vonderheide, the board decided during the executive session held prior to the work session Wednesday to have the Hoosier Desk building appraised. Also, as part of the board’s due diligence, the five properties north of the current site of the library that would need to be purchased will be appraised.

To clarify, the library board does not have to have properties appraised by law but the city has to have two appraisals completed prior to purchasing property.

To expand at the current location, the library will also need to close a portion of 12th Street.

During the meeting last night, Jasper Library Director Christine Golden presented cost estimates for the library to expand the current building by adding several additions. Universal Design based the estimate on adding 9,500 square feet to the existing building and then adding a 9,500 square foot second floor and a 9,500 square foot basement for a 39,500 square foot library building.

According to Golden, the basement was added due to the additional footers that would need to be constructed to support the two-story structure.

The total cost to build this addition was $7,192,000 and included a 10 percent contingency cost of $1,250,000. Of the cost, $545,000 was estimated to purchase and demolish buildings on five properties to the north of the library, but without appraisals on the properties, the cost is speculative at this time.

The Hoosier Desk project was estimated to cost $6,402,000 with a 20 percent construction contingency cost of $852,000 for the library. This cost estimate did not include the purchase price of the building, architectural design fees or furniture for the space. However, with proposed tax credits for renovating the historic industrial building and the potential community participation, the cost to the library could be lowered to about $4.2 million for the library.

The estimate was similar for the Jasper Arts Department.

In 2012, the library board completed an extensive remodel of the current site and installed furniture and bookshelves at a cost of about $293,000. The furniture and bookshelves can be removed to be installed in a new building if that route is taken.

The majority of Wednesday’s meeting encompassed a special decision guidance practicum led by retired Kimball International trainer Jon Light. Light was invited to help facilitate the session incorporating a practicum that incorporated the seven board members and library director listing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to each location.

The activity is designed to show where the board has a consensus on the major factors in considering whether to move forward with the Hoosier Desk option or to stay at the current location.

After completing the analysis of all four categories for both properties and defining the major areas of concern for the board members, the team decided to come back to the board with a fresh set of eyes to finish determining the most important aspects they are considering as they make a choice.

During the public portion of the meeting, four people chose to speak about concerns for the library’s choice.

Brad Ward, CEO of the Dubois County Community Foundation, offered remarks during the public portion of the meeting.

Mike Jones, president of the Jasper Community Arts Commission, also asked the board to consider partnering with the arts department.

Maureen Braun, a business owner, also spoke up to implore the library board to consider the Hoosier Desk building for the future of the city. Conversely, Braun was ardently opposed to the 2011 referendum to build a new library on South Newton Street. A letter to the editor regarding her remarks about Hoosier Desk can be found here.

Jasper resident Ron Snyder expressed concern about the board making a decision without knowing the cost, but Vonderheide assured Snyder the board had already discussed that point during the executive session.

A decision is not expected to occur at tonight’s regular meeting of the Jasper Public Library Board of Trustees scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Library Annex building.