As the library board continues exploring the purchase of the former quilt shop at 736 Main St. for a new library site, city commissioners are urging members to keep the door open for a potential joint facility with City Hall.

The library board on Tuesday night shared updates on efforts to navigate a city parking ordinance and also entered a closed-door executive session to discuss the quilt store. Members took no action following the discussion.

The board toured the former quilt store building in February and has continued to investigate purchasing the spot on Main Street as a more viable option than constructing a new building on the library-owned lot across the street from the current library.

As the board continues to pursue the Main Street location, the City Commission sent a letter asking board members to leave the door open for a possible joint space. 

In March, Mayor Tim Reazin said he wanted to reach out to the library board to see if a partnership was still possible. On Monday, members of the City Commission voiced support for a letter City Manager Kevyn Gero wrote to the library board. 

In the letter, the City Commission says it is interested in partnering with the library board to explore a shared facility for a new public library and City Hall. The letter highlights potential cost savings, operational efficiencies and enhanced community access offered by a shared facility. 

“This project has the potential to become a symbol of partnership and progress. A shared facility reflects responsible fiscal stewardship of public resources, offering operational efficiencies and cost savings over time,” the letter says. 

Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel said Wednesday the goal of the letter was to suggest the continued exploration of a joint space to see if it was a viable option. 

“Let’s see if we can figure out a way to combine forces and move forward on a project together, which, in our view, is a win for the taxpayers, because they’re now paying for a single facility versus two facilities,” Daniel said.

The library board previously expressed concerns about partnering with the city on a new joint building, citing worries over property ownership, potential censorship and funding. 

Board President Ken Massey said his focus right now is on navigating the purchase of 736 Main St.

“Depending on how the 736 Main Street process plays out, further conversations with the city are a possibility,” Massey said. 

Daniel said the letter had been approved and sent. Massey said he had not received it as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, but he was checking with library director Carol Wohlford to see if it had been sent to the library. 

As the library continues pursuing the Main Street location, it is also working to navigate city parking requirements. 

Massey said he had an extended meeting about parking with Kevin Markley of Mar Lan Construction and Sean Zaudke of Multistudio Architects. Massey said Zaudke is starting the process of talking to the city about navigating the parking ordinance by asking for a variance or exemption.

“Sean alluded to the fact that there is information and research out there that an ordinance fashioned in that way is detrimental to the development of downtown areas,” Massey said.

Daniel said the library board has contacted the city planner to discuss what the current parking ordinance requires and how it could apply to a new library space. 

Daniel said the city and library have discussed setting a meeting to help determine the path forward should the library board pursue the quilt shop location. The meeting would include a review of the floor plan to determine parking requirements for the location. 

He said the city plans for the review and approval process for any type of variance request to take place over the summer. 

In other business, the board has a brief discussion about the possibility of raising the mill levy rate for 2026. 

Massey said the library currently taxes at a rate of 3.19 mills and might need to consider raising that rate if the library were to move or want to expand programming.

“If we happen to move the library to another location, I don’t think there’s any doubt that we’re going to have to have more operating funds,” Massey said.

Board member Amy Jankowski brought up that the library was over budget for the first quarter of the year, and board members agreed they would need to continue discussion on how to remain within budget at future meetings.   

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]