The Marshall County Council members tabled the consideration of a proposed bond and remodeling project at the Bremen Public Library in order to gather public comment on the matter.
The library board is hoping to remodel the building, build an addition to the building, and reconfigure the parking lot at a cost of about $3 million. The library board would provide $230,000 toward the project. The tax rate would increase four cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The council is required to approve the request for bonding as it is the fiscal body that approves the library’s budget each year. Information about the process was scheduled to be presented to the county council Monday, but the bond resolution has not been advertised for a public hearing on the matter. Council Vice President Penny Lukenbill said the council typically holds a public hearing when considering a bond resolution.
Councilman Jon Van Vactor said he would feel more comfortable if a public hearing was held in order to take public opinion as the tax rate is impacted with the project.
Library Director Chris Scandling said the board has collected plenty of patron feedback since discussions began about the remodeling project in 2018 and a majority of the comments have been positive.
“There have been multiple surveys, group discussions with residents, one-on-one conversations, emails, and phone calls,” explained Scandling. “We’ve had two forums in 2018 when the project started and most recently in November. We had it in-person for those that were comfortable attending. We also broadcast it live through our Facebook page. It reached nearly 800 patrons and there were 463 views.”
While the council discussed more of the situation, Todd Samuelson, a partner with Baker Tilly, who was going to explain the library’s bond and the tax impact, spoke with Jane Herndon, the head of the bond division at ICE Miller, during the meeting about whether or not a public hearing is required.
“The statute does not require a public hearing of the county council for approval of the bonds. What she has seen, and this is not black and white, is that there have been public hearings for appropriating the bond proceeds. So, there are two things that are in play – approval of the bond issue and the project, which is what we’re here for today, and then the appropriation, or the authority to spend those bond proceeds. She’s seen some public hearings around that appropriation and sometimes not. The approval of the bond issue and the project could be considered by the council. The library has met their legal standing.”
The council unanimously approved a motion to table the issue until the council’s meeting in January where a public hearing could be advertised and members of the public can voice opinions on the proposed project. The council’s next meeting is Tuesday, January 11 at 9 a.m.
