Library debate done, project moves forward

The Jasper Public Library debate is over.

With nearly 60 percent of voters in Bainbridge, Boon-Jasper and Madison-Jasper supporting the referendum to allow the library to bond up to $6.5 million dollars to build a new library at the corner of Third Avenue and Mill Street, the public has spoken in sharp contrast to the overwhelming loss the previous referendum suffered.

“A person in politics recently told me that if you get 60 percent of the vote, it is considered a landslide victory,” Jasper Library Executive Director Christine Golden said. “I think it shows that people are ready to move the library forward.”

Dean Vonderheide, the library board president, agreed saying he was glad to see the support from the city residents. He said after visiting some polls Tuesday morning, he wasn’t feeling very good about the success of the question.

“I spoke to some people and they told me they voted no to the library. It wasn’t very encouraging,” Vonderheide said adding that it didn’t help that his vehicle was hit by a car in one of the polling area parking lots. “I thought, ‘Oh man, it’s gotta be good at the end of the day, right?'”

Golden said she spent all day Tuesday at the polls and her experience was completely positive. “I was sitting there holding the support the library sign and people were coming up to me and being positive,” she said.

With the approval, the library can seek a bond up to $6.5 million for their portion of the Jasper Cultural Center. The 15-year bond could raise property taxes up to $2.68 per month for the median Jasper home. Library officials have indicated the Jasper LEADs fundraising campaign — a fundraiser to support the Cultural Center, Astra Theatre and Courthouse Square — could impact that bond amount. So far, the library has received about $730,000 in pledges and has a goal to raise $2 million.

With the passage of the referendum, Golden said she felt pledges to support the project would increase. “I think a lot of people were waiting until the referendum question was decided,” she said.

The next step will be for the library to complete the purchase of the property from the Sternbergs. According to Golden, this should be completed before the end of the year. “We put it into high gear now, we are going to have some long days ahead of us,” she said. “No more campaigning. Hopefully, by late spring we need to be in demolition mode.”