Initially the Library Committee and its architectural firm, DSGW, told the county commissioners that the library would remain open during its expansion project, noting only that the computer area may need to be relocated. Now the taxpayers are being asked to fund a move into the high school at an estimated cost of anywhere between $15,000 and $30,000, and a monthly rental fee of $2,000. In the May 26 News-Herald, Linda Chappell said, “Some of the expense will be offset because Orb Management and DSGW Architects agree that the work can be done safer and faster in an empty building.”
Before either the county or the city of Grand Marais agree to fund this cost, I strongly suggest they require both ORB Management and DSGW to detail the actual offset costs so a decision can be made based on facts, not hyperbole.
As we head into several major construction projects funded by the 1% money, I believe change orders and requests like this should be the exception, not the rule. We all know neither the county nor the city has extra dollars in its budget, so requests like this will take dollars from other areas.
If we agree to this expense without knowing exactly the payback, I feel we are setting a dangerous precedent.
Pat Campanaro
Grand Marais
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