District Library Board discusses what to do about leaking roof

“I think we should talk about the roof,” said Library Director Mary Jo Suchy shortly after the start of the Oct. 11 meeting of the Belleville Area District Library Board.
She said the day they had four inches of rain there were lots of leaks in the library roof and a computer used by the public got wet and took a week to dry out.
“We need more aggressive repairs,” Director Suchy said.
Board member John Juriga said a blue tarp over the roof would help.
“I also had a leak in my office,” Suchy said, indicating that was the first time that happened. She said someone could double-check windows up on the roof to see if they’re caulked. “We might have to re-roof part of the roof, which could cost about $8,000 to $10,000.”
Board president Sharon Peters said it might cost $20,000 to do the whole roof.
Board member Mary Jane Dawson said they could put a tarp over the computers at night and pull it off in the morning.
Vice president Joy Cichewicz said a blue tarp over the roof would show the community how much a new library is needed.
“Sounds like there’s support for a blue tarp,” Peters said.
She said the board shouldn’t spend too much money before the Nov. 8 election when voters will decide if they support a new building.
“At our Nov. 15 meeting, we’ll discuss this again,” Peters said.
In other business at the 21-minute meeting, the board:
• Heard Michael Boelter, head of the personnel committee, tell board members to fill out the director’s evaluation by the end of the month. He said he and fellow committee member Treasurer Tanya Stoudemire will go over the evaluations with Director Suchy and then Suchy gets to keep them;
• Heard Suchy report that the new print release station is online and paper waste has gone down dramatically. There are no more unclaimed printouts at the end of the day, she said;
• Heard Juriga report that the posts on the front portico have been repaired by Blue Ribbon Construction;
• Heard Suchy report that 900 people attended the Harvest Fest and Cichewicz always organizes the crafts, which are very popular. Diana Mayo helped organize the volunteers this year and did a great job;
• Heard Suchy announce the African American Book Club will hold a 10th anniversary celebration at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27. Dr. Melvin Peters will do poetry readings. Former Library Director Deb Green coordinated the book club for 10 years; and
• Heard president Peters express appreciation to the community for attending the library forums to talk about the millage proposals. “We’ve been encouraged by their positive response,” she said. She said friends from the city brought a cake over earlier that day to support the library’s efforts. Bringing the cake, which was decorated by Mayor Kerreen Conley, were DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson, Councilwoman Kim Tindall, and City Manager Diana Kollmeyer. Following the meeting, board members enjoyed the cake.