Thanks to increased property tax revenues and some belt-tightening, the Missouri River Regional Library's budget and a bid for the capital facility project were approved Tuesday's meeting.
About $60,000 in state funds are missing from the library's budget, withheld by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.
Library Director Claudia Schoonover said increased funds from property taxes for Cole and Osage counties were nearly $45,000. The library board also worked with managers to make several small cuts to the majority of departments to maintain services or programs provided to the public, she said.
If Nixon does release the funds, the board will use them for the planned upgrades and repairs for the capital project, Schoonover said.
Environmental Engineering won the bid for the capital project. Their bid of $442,500 with a completion date at March 17, 2015, was the lowest. The board has worked with them before, and the architectural firm employing the project manager recommended the company after reviewing their bid and referrals.
The same firm, Clark Enerson Partners, also conducted the facilities study that suggested the repairs and updates to the building's heating and air conditioning controls, as well as other mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, said Betty Hagenhoff, assistant director.
The entire list of capital projects was rearranged and prioritized by library staff to tackle some of the building's problems in multiple phases. The building may be closed for some portions of the project, but staff and contractors will work together to minimize that time. Hagenhoff also said portions of the library maybe off limits to visitors for certain phases.
The library board is considering outreach program during the closings, using staff to open the bookmobile at different locations or traveling to schools for reading stories to students, Schoonover said.