If Friends group fundraises, library addition could be built

Dec. 22—WORTHINGTON — Representatives from Koch Hazard Architects of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, presented drawings for a potential renovation and addition to the Nobles County War Memorial building, home of the Worthington library and Nobles County Art Center, during Tuesday's meeting of the Nobles County Board of Commissioners.

The preliminary plans show a renovation of the library's main level, repositioning library office space and the circulation desk, creating two small meeting rooms and reducing the amount of shelving for materials by both shortening the shelving units and spacing them farther apart for handicap accessibility. The basement space would remain largely the same.

"The idea of this effort is to open (the main level) up as much as possible, the interior walls," Hazard explained of the proposed renovation. "The idea is, right when you walk in the front door you can see the full extent of the space."

Architect Keith Thompson said the design provides more dedicated office space for staff, but reduces the collection area.

"We don't want to use the bottom shelf or any shelf above 60 inches," Thompson said.

The proposed cost of the renovation is $1.6 million, while a proposed 2,000-square-foot addition to the Fifth Avenue side of the building — to house a children's library with full 2,000-square-foot basement underneath — is estimated at $3.6 million.

Commissioner Justin Ahlers said a basement addition wasn't needed and inquired about the cost of doing slab on grade construction. Architect Nolan Hazard estimated such a design to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million.

In addition to recalculating costs for the change in structure, the architectural firm will need to determine what utilities and fiber are underground on that side of the building and what would need to be relocated.

Library Board member Bridget Harberts cautioned commissioners, however, that the architectural drawings are not complete and there are still things the board would like to tweak.

"I think it's representative of what we'd like to do overall," she said. "We love our downtown building — we want to make the most of it. I think by opening up this space, allowing staff to see the entire area, it will help staff feel more secure and they'll be able to better serve our community."

Fellow Library Board member Katie Kouba said the biggest angst with the commissioners' request to stay within the walls of the building revolves around the need for additional space.

"We would love for the collection to grow," she said. The current design would actually require the library to cull more of its collection.

Ahlers was determined the commissioners would stick to the original plan to fund a renovation to the existing building. Anything beyond that would not be funded with county dollars.

He asked Friends of the Nobles County Library Chairwoman Kathy Craun if the friends could raise the money necessary to fund an addition. Earlier in the meeting, Craun said the Friends of the Library is not allowed to fund brick and mortar construction. What it can do, however, is fundraise for everything within the library walls, from shelving units to tables, chairs, computers and the collection.

"Does the Friends of the Library want to raise a million dollars?" Ahlers asked, then noted the group would need to raise whatever the cost of the addition would be, whether it's $1 million, $1.3 million or $2 million.

"We're willing to remodel within the walls," Ahlers said. "You guys don't like that — you fundraise and we'll build."

"I could bring it to our membership," replied Craun. "There is such a need in this community and it has been such a long time since anything has been put into this library.

"The fact that our population has changed so dramatically ... I think it would be a viable campaign to raise that kind of money," she added. "However, we would need the support of the county commissioners to say, 'yes we will do this.'"

Craun reminded the board that they had a plan "five or six directors ago," did extensive work, hosted public meetings and had the community excited about a new library and then county commissioners said no.

"That's where we're at right now," Craun said. "People are discouraged, frustrated, and frankly a lot of people have just checked out in supporting the library because their attitude is the county commissioners aren't going to support anything."

Ahlers wanted to set a timeline for fundraising, but before that can begin, they need a more accurate cost for construction. Commissioners did give unanimous approval to move forward on the project.

Thanks to a subsidy authorized by the legislature, Rock-Nobles Community Corrections will move forward to renovate space inside the Prairie Justice Center to better serve staff, and construct a heated garage with workshop and storage space behind the PJC for community corrections.

Director Jon Ramlo said the tools and supplies used by inmates to do community service work are currently stored in multiple locations in the community. Adding a storage facility with two parking stalls for community corrections vehicles should bring everything under one roof. The building will include a restroom and eye-washing station.

The renovation inside the PJC, meanwhile, will transform former storage space into two additional offices, and renovate the law library into a conference training room.

The total project cost for the construction and renovation is $667,712, which Ramlo said represents about half of the funds appropriated to the local agency.

"The state (funds) have to be used to enhance the lives of our clients," Ramlo told commissioners, noting that the training room will be used to offer educational classes to clients.

Commissioners authorized the work in a unanimous vote.

In other action, the board:

* Adopted a 2024 budget of $47,819.225, and a property tax levy of $17,095,880, which represents a 3.9% levy increase over 2023.

* Approved the following department budgets for elected officials: $5,808,370 for the Nobles County Sheriff's Office; $1,319,768 for the county attorney's office; $1,168,707 for the auditor-treasurer's office; and $418,365 for the recorder's office.

* Approved an update to the county's policy for employees who telecommute from South Dakota. The update takes effect Jan. 1.

* Approved the 2024 county position allocation, which states that departments may automatically replace positions without board approval.

* Approved a permit application and authorized a $9,300 application fee for the Reading Sewer District as it seeks a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System-State Disposal System permit. The application fee will ultimately be assessed back to properties benefitting from the system.

* Renewed a lease with the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council for space it occupies in the Nobles County Government Center. The lease agreement, approved through 2028, is based on a rate of $14.25 per square foot.

* Approved a contract renewal with Kinser Law Office and Smith & Johnson Attorneys at Law to serve as attorneys in Child in Need of Protective Services court cases at a monthly rate of $2,500 for up to 40 hours of service. Any additional hours over 40 are to be billed at $90 per hour.

* Approved an agreement renewal between Nobles County Community Services and Southwestern Mental Health Center for mental health support and adult day treatment services. Southwestern Mental Health Center will receive $46,515 for services, including $14,675 for crisis line services and $31,840 for community support and adult day treatment services.

* Approved a contract renewal with Marsden Cleaning Services to provide janitorial services in 2024 at a total cost of $167,525.

* Approved support for the city of Adrian and School District 511's application for a Safe Routes to Schools grant. This is the second time the entities are seeking funding.

* Recognized Jane Janssen, human resources assistant for 10 years of service.