The Jefferson city council at its Oct. 27 meeting approved allocating $1.25 million for the expansion of the Jefferson public library. The money will come from the city’s tax increment financing (TIF) revenue. Total cost of the expansion is pegged at $5 million.
Hollie Roberts, president of the newly-formed Jefferson Public Library Foundation, made a brief presentation to the council. The expansion will add 4,000 square feet on the northwest portion of the building, with some of it stacked on the current building. Roberts noted the expansion is the same size as the original library built in 1904, and only 100 square feet smaller than the 1966 addition.
The fundraising theme is “Imagine Beyond.” Roberts and members of the Jefferson Public Library Foundation board – vice president Nancy Teusch, treasurer Brenda Muir, secretary Ginny Showman, and grants coordinator Peg Raney. They and a 12-member steering committee will begin visiting with potential donors for a “silent phase” of fundraising. A four-member grant writing committee is working with Region XII Council of Governments.
Fundraising is expected to take two years, followed by nine months of final design. The library will be moved to a temporary location during construction, which is expected to take a year.
The fundraising goal is to secure $3 million in private donations from individuals and businesses including leadership gifts, multi-year pledges, gifts of grain, planned and estate gifts; $500,000 to $1.5 million in grants, including Grow Greene County; and support from the city of Jefferson.
“The city’s support will demonstrate confidence that the community and its residents will all benefit from the expansion project. It will help preserve the library’s long history in the community as it continues to provide educational and cultural opportunities to everyone,” Roberts said.
After Roberts’ presentation, council finance committee member Harry Ahrenholtz said the committee has discussed the project several times and knows it’s important for the city to make a solid commitment before fundraising begins. He commended the committee for coming up with a plan, and described it as “a project that not only would be beneficial, but at that level of investment, at this point is something that is very do-able, and I think the community is confident if that also.”
City council Luke Winkleman is also on the finance committee. He commended the library foundation for its organization. He said the city’s commitment would be to a “winning project.” “I see the programs the library currently offers to the community for every walk of life. This is absolutely the type of project that benefits every member of the community…This is a very good project that aligns with all of our goals.”
Ahrenholtz said the $1.25 million is a level that makes sense for the project, and a level the city has the capacity to support.
Council member Darren Jackson serves on the library board. He said the initial plan had a $10 million price tag and called the final plan “for lack of a better word, a bargain.”
City administrator Scott Peterson reminded the council that using TIF funds to fund the project would make it subject to a reverse referendum. If the council were to receive a petition signed by 10 percent of voters who voted in the last city election requesting the item go to a public referendum, the referendum must be held.
Also, the city will need to revise its urban renewal plan to allow TIF funds to be used that way. Peterson said the with the timeline Roberts provided, city funds would not be needed until construction begins in three years.
Peterson commended the finance committee for working with the city’s financial advisor to review operations and understand how the city’s finances will be impacted by the gift to the library.
Council member Matt Wetrich is on the Grow Greene County board. “Between the city and a likely partnership with Grow Greene, there’s going to be a really great head start,” Wetrich said, referring to fundraising. “I have a lot of confidence in this group (the library foundation) to use those two initial big partners to drive home the rest of it.”
Council member Chad Sloan asked what other projects might not be possible if funds are promised to the library. Peterson reminded him there’s no way to know the unknown, but that the library project as been part of the council’s five-year capital improvement plan.
Ahrenholt made a motion to approve a letter of commitment from the city council to the library foundation board for $1.25 million for the expansion project. Wetrich seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Most of the foundation board officers were present. They applauded the vote.
