Last month, Shawano County supervisors approved a maximum of $121 million that could be borrowed to build a new courthouse, jail housing pod and jail auxiliary services.
While the construction of a new public library was not part of the building plan, some supervisors urged their colleagues not to forget about the needs of the library, housed at 128 S. Sawyer St.
Kurt Berner, of The Samuels Group, reminded members of the public property committee April 8 that the library plans should continue to move forward.
In March, library board members met with a fundraising campaign manager to discuss funding options for a new library. Among the recommendations was to conduct a feasibility study to fund part of the project. The cost would be between $25,000 and $40,000.
“The feasibility study is basically identifying within the community what it looks like for potential donors to donate or fundraise for the library project,” Berner said. “He suggested that a 24-month period for that fundraising effort would be realistic.”
If the county wants to keep the library component moving forward, Berner suggested hiring a consultant to conduct this study. Then, he said a site would need to be determined.
The Genex building at East Green Bay and South Sawyer streets will be on the market April 16, which may be too soon for the county to act on.
Berner said earlier this year the site would be large enough for ample parking and a small building addition.
Another option is to build in the current library parking lot, then raze the existing library for use as a parking lot. This could also entail purchasing some properties south of the library, because Berner said he is concerned that the parking lot would be a tight fit for the new library.
Venture Architects would develop a floor plan and building elevations that would be used in conjunction with the capital campaign, Berner said.
“What you will need is that when (finance director) Nichole (Zuehl) goes to apply for grants for that, in order for those grants to be awarded, you would have to have a shovel-ready project,” he said.
By the end of those 24 months, donations and grant monies would be determined, and officials would know how much money county taxpayers would have to put up to finish the project.
