Library hopes to open media center in Sumpter on Oct. 1

Belleville Area District Library Director Mary Jo Suchy told the library board she is working on the upcoming budget and is planning for the new media center in Sumpter Township to open Oct. 1.
At the library board’s regular meeting May 8, Building Committee chairwoman Joy Cichewicz said library representatives had a meeting with Sumpter Township representatives and they are working on the details of the new media center.
Cichewicz said Sumpter will be doing the outside work on upgrading the hexagon building across from township hall using the $200,000 of library funds in escrow from a past millage levy.
Sumpter is working with its engineer John Hennessey, who also is the City of Belleville engineer who is approving plans for the library’s construction in downtown Belleville.
Board member John Juriga said any of Sumpter’s money left over after this outside work has to be spent on the library and it could be used inside.
“It’s good of them to share the effort,” Juriga said.
Originally, the library planned to do all the work and its architect had drawn plans and been paid for it.
“We think it would be budget neutral,” said board chairwoman Sharon Peters. “We set aside $250,000 to do inside work.” She said the board had a budget, but because Sumpter want to do it their way that would be adjusted. She said they want to get started this year.
Cichewicz said after his review of library plans in the city Hennessey has asked for a deeper base on the main drive in the parking area, a 10″ base with 4″ of asphalt. This will cost $45,000 more.
She said the sanitary sewer plan has to be reviewed by the county.
Cichewicz said the fencing around the construction site in downtown Belleville was expected to go up May 10 and digging to begin May 14.
She said they were just waiting for the deed agreements with the city of Belleville to get approved, which they were on May 7. The library board then approved them at its May 8 meeting.
The approvals were for the city deeding the library the part of Fourth Street needed for construction and the municipal parking lot. The city also deeded the library parcel to the library, the first time the library has owned that land. Then, the library deeded the H&B property to the city and library for the municipal/library parking lot. It will be owned 51% by the library and 49% by the city.
Cichewicz said now the building committee will be able to do the “fun stuff” of selecting tiles, carpeting and other details for the inside of the new building.
Director Suchy reported on the latest meeting of the Art Committee and said there was discussion about finding homes for some of the library’s existing art. They discussed potential wall space for art and architect Dan Whistler will bring his virtual reality equipment to their next meeting so they can look at the walls.
The Art Committee also weighed in on the proposed bike racks and suggested a little more artistic model, Suchy said. They also discussed fund raising and said that should be under the direction of the library board.
Chairwoman Peters said she could appoint an Ad Hoc Fund Development Committee for art for the library.
“We’re not at ground zero,” Peters said. “We’ve got some things under way. We’re already talking with people about donations.”
Peters said she would be willing to work on fund development and noted Barbara Miller expressed a willingness to help and so did Doug Peters, Donna Lavin, and John Juriga. She asked anyone in the community willing to work on this to let her know.
She said they have come up with a listing of areas in the new library that could be named, with possible prices.
Juriga said he and Mary Jane Dawson commissioned a painting of the present library from Neil Griffith. He presented it as the first piece of art for the library.