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Show Standard Examiner Monday, August 10, 2015 9A 3 Weber library projects on course Modernization, expansion for N. Ogden branch nearly derailed OGDEN — In little more than two years after voters approved a $45 million bond for four Weber County Library projects, one has been completed, two are on schedule and under budget — and the fourth almost got derailed. Additional parking was laid at the Ogden Valley Branch in Huntsville, construction on the new Headquarters Branch in Roy nears completion and renovation plans for Ogden's Main Branch continue to progress. But the fourth project — the $5 million expansion and modernization of the North Ogden Branch — fell behind schedule because of a concerted effort by the mayors of North Ogden, Pleasant View and Harrisville to take the project in a different direction. Instead of renovating the existing building, they pushed to alter a different location into a new library. According to July 7 board meeting minutes, North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor said the new library proposed for the public works property would be about 11,000 square feet, but the city would do much of the preparation work to deliver a buildable site. "We have some elected officials who are very keen on mov ing the site to the old (North Ogden) public works area," Weber County Library Director Lynnda Wangsgard told members of the Weber County Library Board on Tuesday. "That would cause us to build differently than what we proposed to the public in the bond," Wangsgard said. "We would not be able to expand the size of the service area if at all, and the quality of the service that we could offer in a building not much larger than what we have would not be a third generation, modern library with the amenities that we promised folks." A third generation library refers to the type of facility that not only offers a wide range of reading materials, computer space and online connectivity, but also provides ample meeting space to encourage community interaction. "It's the one space besides your work, school or home where everybody is welcome regardless of their characteristics or station in society," Wangsgard said. At present, the current North Ogden Branch doesn't have enough space or computers. Whenever a new book comes in, an old one has to go out the door and youth nonfiction is filed with adult nonfiction. Renovation plans include expanding into the building's lower Construction of the new Headquarters (Southwest) library branch in Roy proceeds on time and under budget. It is one on four Weber County Library upgrades that voters approved in a $45 million bond election in June 2013. level, increasing usable space to about 24,000 square feet and adding more parking, which North Ogden city would need to assist with. One proposal is to move the skate park south of the Library and convert that land into parking stalls. Weber County Commissioner and Library Board liaison James Ebert said there are several reasons to continue as planned instead of going with the mayors' proposal. There could be legal stumbling blocks and social contract issues if they abandoned the plan outlined during public outreach sessions as they marketed the bond, he said. It became clear Tuesday that even though board members had voted down the mayors' proposed change last month, they needed to again reaffirm that decision so that the original plan could move forward. Of the six board members present for that July 7 vote, all voted in favor of rejecting the mayors' proposed change in direction except Kathleen Jensen who voted no, Commissioner Ebert abstained. See LIBRARIES, Page 10A Weber County Library Board looking for land donations OGDEN — The Weber County Library Board has voted to Seek statements of interest from potential donors of property that could one day be used for a library in the northwest part of the county. The future library's primary service area would include Farr West, Marriott-Slaterville and Plain City. According to 2013 U.S. Census estimates, 6,140 people live in Farr West, 1,701 in Marriott-Slaterville and 6,049 in Plain City. Proposed sites should be at least 3.5 acres, and design specifications set forth by the Library Administration and Management Association, a division of the ^*- American Library Association, will be used to help evaluate their potential. Letters of interest, due by Sept. 15, should be directed to: Weber County Library Board of Trustees, c/o Lynnda Wangsgard, 2464 Jefferson Ave., Ogden, UT 84401. According to a statement from Wangsgard, site evaluation See LAND, Page 10A |
