District Library board decides on new library building in downtown

At its Dec. 8 regular meeting, the Belleville Area District Library Board voted unanimously to select Option C for its new library. Of the three options presented by architect Dan Whisler, Option C is a 30,000-square-foot, all-new, two-story building in the middle of Fourth Street, between the alley and Charles Street.
Three board members were absent, but they had all shown a preference for Option C, as well.
Options A and B were proposals that included add-ons to the present library building. Option C will raze the present building after construction of the new building.
Paul Stauder of Public Financial Management, a financial adviser, was present at the meeting to present conservative projections for bonds to pay for the building.
He gave figures for $9 million to $14 million in bonds for the library, which would total 0.48 mills to 0.81 mills, depending on how much the new bonds are and how many years the tax would be levied.
He said it is a year out from the November 2016 election and a year and a half before the bonds would be sold, so these are projections, but he feels they are appropriate.
He explained what wording should be in the ballot language, including the amount and what it’s for. Also, the district library would pledge its unlimited taxes.
He said the financial proposal assumes the tax base grows 1.5% a year and that someone can capture some of their taxes.
“When you decide what you’re going to do, we’ll tailor the numbers more specifically,” Stauder said.
Board member Michael Boelter said, “We need to have a talk with the Belleville DDA [Downtown Development Authority] and the Van Buren Township DDA.”
Library Director Mary Jo Suchy reported on state legislation to help libraries in the state with tax captures. She said a bill had passed a Senate committee.
She said it eliminates most automatic library tax capture, but the library board could decide to allow the capture if it benefits the library.
“We will meet with the Belleville and Van Buren Township DDAs,” said board president Mary Jane Dawson.
Stauder gave figures for 20 and 25-year bonds, with the interest paid much higher for the 25-year bond.
Attorney Barbara Miller commented from the audience about how the DDAs are run by non-elected people and, “they suck up the money.”
Stauder said when the DDAs were created they were very small. But in the 1980s they grew substantially and captured a pool of money. Since the economy fell in 2008 they had taken on a lot of debt. He said the hit is very, very direct on DDAs. A lot have their revenues restricted and a lot have debt to pay. That’s one reason they have the concerns they do with new legislation, Stauder said.
“And, groups like yourself are concerned about losing the next dollar,” Stauder said.
“The DDA could contribute to the library if you stayed in the district,” said architect Whisler.
They mentioned the Payment in Lieu of Tax concept.
President Dawson gave a report on the Nov. 25 meeting with city of Belleville officials to supplement the written report prepared by Building Committee Chairwoman Joy Cichewicz, who was not present for the Dec. 8 meeting.
DPW Director Keith Tackett reportedly confirmed that Options B and C would require rerouting or have an impact on a sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water and a gas line. And, they would need two new fire hydrants.
He said he preferred option A, which has no impact on any infrastructure, or Option C if Fourth Street remains open from Main Street to the alley.
City Building Official Rick Rutherford expressed concerns about bringing the old library up to code, which is pretty much impossible.
Mayor Kerreen Conley preferred Option C, provided that Fourth Street remains open from Main Street to the alley. Cichewicz reported that the mayor felt Option A took the most money off the tax rolls and did not like the idea of cobbling together the old building with a new addition, as in Options A and B. She said it would be possible to work with the city on details of the library’s current lease. Mayor Conley would like to see the electrical lines underground, if possible, as proposed by the library.
Cichewicz reported DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson was interested in how the library would handle storm water retention.
Whisler said the county is in charge of the storm water drainage and while it drains into the lake, the appropriate way to do it is underground in an urban setting, probably underneath the parking. He said it can be a significant cost, but it’s part of being good stewards of the environment.
He said this captures oils from dripping cars in the first flush and cools the water by holding it, enhancing water quality.
In her report, Cichewicz said the library needs to make a decision on which option to pursue and once that is done it would be useful to present it to the city council.
Board members said they were influenced by their visit to the Dexter District Library which is the same size as the one proposed for Belleville.
After deciding on Option C, Whisler said this gives him direction to begin the design and he needs to get one the board is comfortable with. He said the big question is, “Where’s the front door?”
He said the city people seemed to like being able to see the front door from Main Street, but they could put it on Charles Street.
In other business at the Dec. 8 meeting, the board:
• Approved the regular board meeting dates and library closure dates for 2016;
• Heard Director Suchy say the draft of the financial audit for the year ended June 30 is good and the library took in more than anticipated and spent less than anticipated. She had distributed copies for the board and public to study before the audit presentation at another meeting;
• Learned the library’s lighted Book Cart Precision Drill Team won a trophy in the Winter Fest parade. Also, Suchy said, there was a very generous donation of $6,000 from the Liedel family in memory of their deceased mother. The library will be able to replace an extremely worn out love seat in the magazine section with a new love seat and chair. In addition, the Friends of the Library will be asked to purchase one additional chair from the same furniture line to replace a worn out chair in the children’s room and all of these can be transferred to the new library, if one is built;
•Learned the Friends of the Library have approved $2,500 to purchase new carpeting for the program room since it is being held together by duct tape.
The next meeting of the board will be at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 12.