Jasper Arts Commission agrees to fund portion of Hoosier Desk plan
An engineering and architectural study of the Hoosier Desk building now has about half the funding needed to go forward.
The Jasper Arts Commission Board approved paying for 25 percent of the engineering costs with the caveat that their total investment into the studies would not exceed $15,000.00.
The Jasper Library Board approved a similar amount in February. Both are interested in seeing the 130,000 square foot former factory in downtown Jasper transformed into their new home. But, both are protecting their interests and wallets.
The library board also wants the plans completed by May 1, 2015 so they could meet deadlines for a potential referendum by May of 2016.
Both groups agreed to the 25 percent based on the amount of space they will use in the building. Both feel that they only need 30,000 square feet — roughly a quarter of the total space. That figure is about 2,000 square feet more than the 27,000 square feet a volunteer library committee posited as the ideal size for a new library.
During a combined meeting of all interested parties, the three groups — City of Jasper, Jasper Arts Commission, and Jasper Library Board — agreed that the environmental and engineering studies recommended by Universal Design on the environmental and the conceptual design by Gamble Associates would be completed together. The combined cost of all the studies and plans is estimated to reach about $60,000.
A story on that decision is here.
Arts commission president Mike Jones sounded a positive note about the potential partnership on the Hoosier Desk building and reminded the board of their decision to pursue it over former plans to renovate the current Jasper Arts Center facility at an estimated cost $13 million dollars.
“We’ve kind of given that up to join with the city plan and move downtown and get closer to the downtown plan,” he said.
Before the vote was taken, Jones asked the board, “How do you all feel about committing to a quarter of the costs of the study?”
Board member Beth Seidl said, “I think that if we did, it would be a step in the direction of telling the library we’re on board with what they’ve just done.”
Other board members expressed the need to keep moving forward. The motion was then made by board member Selena Vonderheide, seconded by Pat Thyen, and passed unanimously. The board also specified in a separate vote that the money come from the building fund for the arts expansion.
In other actions, the arts commission:
–Approved the cost to print the season guide through Wood Printing who provided the lowest quote of $3,295.54.
–Kit Miracle announced that comedian John Lithgow will perform a monologue show next season. Lithgow has performed on TV and in many movies. He is known for the TV series “Third Rock From the Sun,” and movies, “Terms of Endearment,” “Harry and the Hendersons,” the voice of Lord Farquaad on “Shrek,” along with “Footloose” with Kevin Bacon. The date of his appearance has not yet been finalized.
