Order. Pledge allegiance. Stand if you're able, please. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Call order. Roll call. Starting on my right. Council >> person Josh. >> Mayor Jimmy John King. Council person Craig Anderson. person Jeremiah agenda. >> Motion's general approval of the agenda.
Do we have anything to add or take off or >> uh Nope. Everything will deal with review of the library proposed library project. >> All right. I'll make a motion to approve it. >> I'll second. >> Motion second to approve the agenda. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Opposed? I'll carry. All right. Under motions of general business, consideration of library project and bid approvals. >> Who wants to speak to that? >> All right. As you know, for the past 2, three years here, we've been working on a proposed uh project, which it's still
proposed at this stage to do an expansion to the library. Um we did work through a possible bigger expansion if we would have taken on the senior citizen center. Uh that has been scaled back now to the original plans of the
addition. Um mainly the community room, um study rooms, um project rooms, uh extra set of restrooms, and um then eventually there'll be a courtyard we hope uh in the back. Um obviously, uh
gave us the continuation to keep going and we got so far as um putting together a plan. Um then we also uh started with a construction manager and then we also uh were able to go ahead to get bids.
The construction manager took the whole project and divided it into um let's see what was that list. Yeah, >> there's like 20 categories there of uh bids. They got 120 responses and so the
bids are in. Um they've done their I guess you'd call it favorites for each of the categories and thus we're at on that worksheet that we sent out last night. Um 2.81 right now 84141.
And then um Kelly went to work to show the categories that we had saved up, set aside um um or would be using. And then the one category uh sidewalk and um uh driveway,
those things we were planning on whether the library would have happened or not. So they're proposed to come out of our street and sidewalk um separate categories. So with that, you want that worksheet again?
>> Copy it for you. >> I don't get a copy of it. I guess where's that leave is if you take the sidewalk, you want us to consider the sidewalk in the park, you want to be something other than library projects where I'm taking it. >> Yeah, we have the ability to get it
done. >> What's that? If we're at 2.814 814 or 41, whatever it was you take them to. Almost a foot is that >> that's about an additional 70,000 for the parking lot. And >> that would be reduced from the 2.841. >> Mhm.
>> So it takes us down to 2.75 or something. >> Yeah. And then we're working on another 37,000 >> of potential savings >> of things they they got in there that >> So you're thinking you have a
possibility of you're looking at about 2.7 >> basically. >> Uhhuh. >> Now you still want to do it as one project or three? I thought it was three phases once first presented to us, >> right? Yep. Here's here's the tradeoff.
There are some abilities for the second year which would have been remodeling items that if you do it as one, you can take advantage of those subs being there finishing the new shell structure and
then can while they're there do the different aspects. >> Are we still waiting on grants potentially? >> Nope. This is what we got. So, where does that where are we at as far as like I was just saying, I appreciate the work you've done to keep it out of our
pockets for the most part, >> but I'm assuming if we try to roll it into one, which would save money, but it's still going to cost. It's going to change >> the way we're looking at it. >> So, um >> the remodel portion was about 255.
>> So, we'd be rolling that would be out of our pockets basically if we did it in phase one, right? I could like we'd be paying but we hopefully save a little bit because they're there. >> It's included in the 2.8 amount right now. >> Yep.
>> So, it's with the understanding um that we have about 2.243 243 cash on hand right now. And then throughout the rest of this year, we're going to be receiving uh 280 in
additional interest from um our uh cash reserves for the remainder of the year, which is a conservative estimate. Um $138,000 in property taxes and then um an additional $40,000 in donations from
the Steuartfield Library Foundation. Is 138 property tax just the one year alone or is that over a three-year period? >> That's just over this year. >> That's just this year's amount that was budgeted for the library. >> That money would normally be we'd look at other places to send it, but we're just focusing it all on the library.
>> No, that's Yeah, that's just the library's portion of the property tax levy. >> That we pay too many taxes. >> Yes, we do. This is a stat to it. Here's my tradeoff, you guys. You know where I stand on this. You know where I
started at a million dollars. I go to the I go to the public. I did trade you. I'll go to 2 million. I still stand on that. I won't go for 2.8, 2.7, 2.5. Not without a public vote. That's just where I stand on if you want to try doing it
all like this. You've known that from the get-go. Cuz if it's needed that bad and the public wants it that bad, that means they're willing to pay the increased taxes and everything else. Now, I'm not saying you're not doing a good job. I'm not saying the people like
the library. But that being said, just like I told you earlier, I got all my tax statements again, too. And the ones of us that live in this town that have to pay the taxes. >> Yeah, they're high. >> They're getting higher and higher. >> The company,
>> that's mine, Josh. I don't know. I I think I think we need to move forward. Like we put this work into it. Like I'm not sure how much of that is going to impact our our taxes. Like do we know what like the cost
increase would be? >> We didn't budget a whole lot different for 26 for the property tax amount for the library capital fund. It's been budgeted in the past. It went up maybe a few thousand. So, we didn't increase it a lot to come
out of property taxes. It's more coming from the interest and the money that we've been saving for years. >> Yeah. >> Because most most of the money's like interest that we earned >> and like donations and you've got the grants and everything like that. So,
>> yeah, water would be marginal for utility costs because you have to increase when you have a bigger building. Um, but electrical with the state grant we got for the solar system, the review is it's not only going to pay for the electrical of the addition, it's
going to cover the electrical costs in the original. >> Is it going to cover the installation and maintenance and everything else for the lifetime of it too? >> Well, the installation >> installation is paid for in that grant. Yeah. >> So, that means the building maintenance fund will have to go up. So, the taxes
will have to go up because if you got a solar problem there, your problem, somebody's got to take care of it. >> It's under warranty for uh the lifetime of the or I think it's a 30-year warranty on that. >> You should bring some of that stuff and show us. I'm having a little problem here. We're already 3 months into the year looking
at a lot of money besides this. I'm getting a little anxious about it cuz we're we haven't even got into the big projects like streets and stuff yet. Great. >> I like what you're saying, Mayor, and I
get where you're coming from, but if we were willing to go to 200, I mean 2 mil, you were, you know, another 500,000 is a lot of money. I totally get it. Um, looking at property tax increase and everything else going on, I I almost
feel like we've spent money and we've put so much time into it right now that now is the time to freaking push it through and get it done. Uh, but with that, we absolutely have to can't do a blind eye to everything else. Like, he's right. I mean, we I just looked at my tax statement the other day and I'm
like, are you crazy? My house is 20 30 years old and I pay over five grand a year in property tax. It's crazy. I don't blame it on the city, but we got to be very cognizant. But I feel like we're at this point now. We push this for so long that I tend to go against
him on this one, but I would say let's push it through. But we sure as hell better be trying to save everywhere we can. And what he said too, I hope everything that you're I'm just taking your word for it, too. I haven't seen it. So I, you know, I trust you with
that. It's landed people in jail before. >> We're being very trusty with our staff on a lot of things. We need I think we're getting away from what and some people don't like to, but we used to have committee meetings and other meetings where there's a little more
input than just one or two staff people telling us. We were elected to do that. I'm not saying they're lying to us, but if I don't see it until the last minute, >> I I agree with that, too. Totally do. I just Yeah,
I I do that makes sense. Committee meetings, I understand why. I'm afraid to put anything to a public vote right now just because I mean, everybody's anti anti- anti I mean it I'd hate to come this far and then see just all go
to the dump basically. Jeremiah, >> um, I'm having a hard time understanding this worksheet that you sent out. So, we had the the top total is the 2.8 million and then we
have 1.8 available in cash right now. Right. >> In the library capital fund. Yeah. In addition to the library fund also has some money. They have a brin trust that's been sitting there with money that's specifically used could be used
for a structure >> for a capital building maintenance >> and then the reserve building maintenance is what was carried over from last year >> okay >> and that takes it down and then the other things are still to be received yet this year because they've already
received on the interest I budgeted the 350,000 which is what we've been budgeting for the library of our interest money and so far they've goten 69,000. So the difference is the 280. So like I say, that's conservative
actually, but if we start taking funds out, our interest will go down. But last year, they got 481,000 in interest alone. >> Right. But so that that means after the the foundation donation, the property
tax of the 138 and the 280 that you just said, we only need 140,000. >> Yep. >> To to fully fund it. So then what's where's the >> So then those bottom numbers there's reserve sitting in the parking lot reserve the balance in that account is
306,000 we would be the project estimate was 35,000 for that part for the parking lot and then we have another general government capital fund that has buildings and to be used for that that reserve and that's 384,000
and we would take 70 out of their basic Basically, that's just the plug figure to get it to zero. We also have a reserve for sidewalks and that would take 33,000 out of there. >> Okay. So, the the left hand column on the on the bottom is just the current
balances. Is that what we would use out of it, >> right? That's where they're sitting right now. And then the right column is what we would be taking out per the estimates. Have you got any final plans on this or plans and specs or anything on it here?
>> Has it been run past the city engineer to make sure there's no changes need to be needed that we don't know about that's going to cost us another $100,000? >> We're waiting for her sign off. So, no. Answer your question. Well, so you asked a bunch of questions
about the budget. Where do you stand? >> Jeremiah, you're on the library board, right? >> What's that? >> Library board >> and everyone's all all excited about it on the library board. They're not answering the questions to
the public about the cost though. So, >> any other questions? >> Are you guys prepared to make a vote on this? >> What are we looking at as far as you mentioned the costs to the public? You know, like when we did the referendum for the fire hall and all
that, >> I know that was all public, but I mean at the pool, those are big increases obviously. What are we looking at here? Like what? >> The fireball was only a million dollars. Million one too, >> right? But we're talking less than a million that we'd be asking the public
for out of this, right? >> But you're taking you take the grants away and the 40,000 or whatever from the foundation. The rest of it's all tax dollars. It could be used towards a road towards improvement. Have we still got a million dollar bill coming on this m this Highway 30 project? No.
>> What's it down to? The last estimate they gave us was 700 something. >> That's before we take the lights out. >> Correct. >> So we can drop that, right? >> What is the threshold that we have to go to a vote for a project
even if it doesn't go to a referendum? I thought there was some threshold where you had to had to give them >> that's on that's on the bids. >> That's on the bids. has to come before us before they can as well. >> But but I thought there was another higher threshold where you
>> there's purchasing thresholds. Okay. >> The other thing we can do is if you have questions and you don't want to make the decision today, then we can try to round those up as best we can for your next meeting. But um we had looked at this as
an opportunity to let subs get going if they needed to or wanted to. But but big decision. >> You guys want to make a motion one way or the other? >> I think at some point we have to like
streets are important like all that like the infrastructure like that stuff we need. But we got to do something for the citizens too that everybody can use. Like my 8-year-old's not going to be driving down the road like but he'll go to the library. We have to do something
to show the people that like they're getting something for the money that they're paying outside of like the maintenance stuff. >> Well, we have to agree with I totally agree with you and we have to be able to defend it. >> And I think this is defendable, believe it or even though I'm not a regular user
of the library, >> doesn't necessarily get me. I'd just be paying for it, I guess. But, >> um, you're right. I mean, it's it how do you defend all the time saying, "Well, we got a sidewalk fund and we've got we're doing the roads and nobody gives a other than the road is a piece of
crap and it gets done, but they don't think about the water lines and all that." Either way, taxes suck, but there's a reason for it. I think I could stand behind this if we move forward with it. I think I could defend it with people that would question me. So, I'm going to probably side with you on this
one. >> We need a motion to do something. Make a motion to I'll I'll make the motion to approve the consideration of library project and bid approval. >> Second. >> I'll second it.
>> Do a roll call vote. Councilman Art. Yay. Or a >> Yay. >> Mayor King. Nay. >> Yay. >> Anderson. Yay. Bulgen. Yay. >> All right. I guess you get to make the next motion,
Craig. Motion to adjourn. We have a second. >> Second. >> All right. Sorry. >> All in favor? >> I >> So, uh, clearly pressure is on in on this project because we normally agree on everything. >> Yep.