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August 26, 2010

Warren County freeholders approve $890,000 contract to renovate new library branch

Thursday, August 26, 2010
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times
WHITE TWP. | Marking an increase of about three times the original projected cost, Warren County freeholders signed off Wednesday on a contract for $890,000 worth of renovations to the upcoming Northeast Branch of the county library system.

County freeholders awarded the contract to Hackensack, N.J.-based Onekey LLC to renovate a former farmers market building on Route 46 in Independence Township. The county last November approved spending another $900,000 to purchase the building.

County Freeholder Director Rick Gardner previously estimated the renovation costs at between $200,000 and $300,000. Following Wednesday's meeting, Gardner attributed the higher price tag to unforeseen expenses.

Gardner said he didn't realize initially the county would need to install an elevator at the building, creating a six-figure cost. The county also is unable to reuse as many of the furnishings at the existing branch as originally anticipated, Gardner said.

"While the appearance of that building looks great, in order to turn it into a library, a fully functioning modern library, it did cost more than what was first indicated to the board," Gardner said. "I'm never happy when we have to spend a lot more money."

Gardner maintained that pursuing that building was a prudent move. The expenses incurred by purchasing and renovating the building remain cheaper than constructing a new branch from scratch, he said.

Residents of the municipalities served by the Northeast Branch pay more than $1 million annually in library taxes and expect a reasonable setting, Gardner said.

"It's really going to be a major plus to the Independence, Allamuchy and Mansfield communities who are the main library users of that branch," Gardner said. "When we're all said and done, this is an extremely substantial building for the dollar value."

The new Northeast Branch is slated to open in early 2011. The existing branch, located farther west on Route 46, would be sold.

At more than 10,000 square feet of total floor area, the new building is nearly triple the size of the existing branch. The parking lot at the new building also has more than 50 spaces compared with spots for 27 vehicles at the current facility.

With more shelf space, staff members also will be able to hold onto books for a longer period of time, county library Director Maureen Baker Wilkinson said Wednesday. The new branch will include a separate meeting room for library programs instead of the current practice of holding events in the middle of the library, she said.

Branch employees also will be provided with a staff room in the new building, Wilkinson said. Without a private area in the existing facility, some staff members eat at their desks or sit in their cars, she said.

"It's not always comfortable eating in front of the public," she said.

Reporter Bill Wichert can be reached at 610-258-7171, ext. 3570, or bwichert@express-times.com. Talk about issues in your town at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

Posted by tumulty at August 26, 2010 7:50 AM

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