Responses to blog questions

Wow, thanks for the great response and fantastic questions!! I'll try to answer them.

1) Could we build the library for less? Yes, possibly and we'll try to keep costs down. Just because we ask for $32 million doesn't mean we have to take out bonds for that entirety AND the saving will be reflected on your tax bill. If we can build it for less we will - we do not want to build a monument - we want to build something useful but that will last. We haven't determined the final design yet - somehwere between design 1 and 2 - I know that people like both of them for different reasons. We will try to keep costs down as low as possible but we also want to use green, sustainable products and that will be more expensive than traditional construction but it will help us keep ongoing costs (utilities, etc.) down over time. We are also looking at making the building a bit smaller (from 75,000 sq. ft. to 67,000 sq. ft.) which will help reduce costs. In these difficult economic times, bidders are looking for work and construction bids may come in more favorable even though materials costs are increasingly higher. We want to build a library that will last a long time and be a structure that will be both useful and something of which the community can be proud. The library is a busy place now, but we want it to be even busier offering more meeting rooms, a bigger and brighter children's area with designated youth (Jr. high and high school) areas and more area for displays/events.

2) Do we need a drive-up window? We are putting in amenities that have proved worth in other libraries and also have been asked for in the McHenry community. Right now the downtown Chicago Public library has one, Algonquin, Gail Borden (Eligin) and Fremont have drive-up windows - I'm sure other libraries in the area have them as well. The drive-up window doesn't really add a lot of cost to construction but the inside of the library hasn't really been defined yet. At the same time, we're all busy and sometimes don't have time to come into the library - wouldn't it be nice to call ahead and have your holds waiting for you (think about how often you use a drive-up bank teller)? We'll be asking the public just what you'd like to see in a new building - services and amenities - at future public meetings. Personally, I'm totally open to trying some new things and deleting options that our public won't use. I welcome all suggestions.

3) Have we applied for grants and funding? We haven't applied for any grants/funding because we're not in the building stages yet - but we will. Most grants and funding require submittal of building plans and specific construction details - we haven't gotten that far yet. Green construction grants are difficult to come by in the Chicago area but we will apply for some Sierra Club grant money, Illinois State Library construction funds, LEED certification funding and others as well as orchestrate a local funding campaign (buy a brick, a tree, etc.) with possible corporate donations. We've estimated about $280,000 in grant money for the project.

I hope this answers some of your questions. I look forward to conversing with you on the blog and in person as you ask questions regarding the referendum and the new library. Jim Scholtz.