Editorial: How much will taxpayers give for a library downtown?

On Tuesday night, Sept. 22, a two-hour meeting of the Belleville Area District Library building committee discussed what to do next about fixing up our library. Professional information came from architect Dan Whisler.
The library board has decided to bow to the results of the post-millage-defeat survey where voters said the library should stay in the city of Belleville. But, how are we going to do that?
Whisler gave his recommendations on what to do next. The committee is considering renovating the present library and building a new addition. But, the proposal could change. There are lots of details to attend to before putting it on the November 2016 election ballot.
How much are voters willing to pay for an updated, expanded library where they want it – downtown? That’s the big question.
The 45,000-square-foot building voters turned down for the DNR site is being reduced to 30,000 square feet for the next proposal. Pretty much everything is being reduced by one-third.
Whether it will go along Charles Street to Third or to the lake by way of the Grace Baptist Church property is yet to be determined. The city doesn’t want it on Main Street. That’s for businesses.
The committee wants to make a recommendation to the full library board soon, so it can start telling the plans to the public and look for support. Stay tuned.