Jasper Contractual and Public Library meeting notes – September 13

The Contractual and Jasper Library boards met Thursday night and while their regular monthly items were discussed, the main topic of conversation was the bids that were received for the Jasper Library improvement project.

Both boards opened and closed hearings on the budget with no citizens from the public coming forward to speak at either one.

Before the bids were opened for the Jasper Library, Library Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt said Indiana Landmarks —a nonprofit organization, interested in the preservation of architecturally unique or historically significant properties— informed him that modifications to the exterior of the Gramelspacher-Gutzweiler building could not be performed without permission. Even though it could be perceived as another roadblock in the course of the library trying to obtain the building from Vincennes University, library board President Bill Hewitt said “no wholesale changes would be made.”

Shaneyfelt also told the board that plans are moving forward for the library to acquire both the Gramelspacher-Gutzweiler building and the parking lot that sits to the north of the facility. He said he felt that discussions would be completed by the October meeting. The board would know the details on the acquisition at that time.

As for the bids for the Jasper Library, there was only one submitted for the remodeling of the Jasper Library and Gramelspacher buildings. Streicher Construction submitted a base bid of $57,000.00 for the project.  The board took the bid under advisement on a vote. Tom Schipp of Universal Design Associates said that five bid packages were picked up, but only the one from Streicher was returned.

The final task for the boards was a long range planning session that lasted two hours. Items discussed included a statement of community needs and goals; measurable objectives and service responses to the community’s needs and goals; an assessment of facilities, services and technology, and operations; an ongoing evaluation process; financial resources and sustainability; and collaboration with other public libraries and community partners.

The board said that the three to five-year plan includes building or expanding the Jasper Library with a goal of having it done by 2014.