Library Expansion Project Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Newly Remodeled Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library Dedicated

May 4, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The newly remodeled Dell Rapids Carnegie Library was dedicated on Saturday, May 2nd, on a picture perfect morning.

Tom Earley, president of the Board of Trustees, opened up the dedication ceremony with a few opening remarks. “Today we celebrate the completion of the renovation of the original Dell Rapids Carnegie Public library and the completion of the addition. You see before you a building renovated to the standards of today…updated infrastructure wired for technology. The additional space allows us to improve our service with new and exciting programs,” said Earley.

A new flag pole dedication followed an invocation by Pastor Melissa Fletcher. Eight members of the Dell Rapids High School choir sang the national anthem as the American flag was raised on the new flag pole for the first time. American Legion Post 65 presented the colors.

Mayor Scott Fiegen also spoke during the ceremony. “I’ve been involved in many projects over the years as mayor, but none that have taken this long.” Mayor Fiegen then asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they served as a library board member, served on the city council, or donated time or money to the project. “Just look around at the hands up, just look around. This is what a community project looks like. This is definitely a community project.” Mayor Fiegen also said, “I think this is a great addition to our community,” after thanking many for their work and dedication to the project.

Library Director Brittany Moeller said, “I just want to thank everybody for their continued support and dedication to this project. With this new library, my staff and I are eaglery anticpating the different opportunities and programs we will be able to offer the community of Dell Rapids.”

Mary Jones, Director of Siouxland Libraries was the guest speaker during the ceremony. She concluded with a challenge to the audience. “You all need to find and renew all the ways you can to encourage the use of this new facility and connect with the community after this celebration today.”

The 45-minute dedication ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting with the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and refreshments served inside the library.

Library Renovation Project Running on Schedule

January 27, 2015 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

During the Dell Rapids City Council meeting on Monday, January 19th, Tom Earley presented to the council the progress on the library renovation project. Earley told the council that the library has received around $24,000 in donations since his last update back in November 2014. Earley also mentioned different aspects of the project in the update.

“The ceramic tile in the bathrooms and entrance way have been installed. It’s looking good,” said Early. “The elevator installation is supposed to start next Monday (January 26th) and should take about two weeks. As that gets close to completion, they will schedule the dry wall people back in to get that area finished off.”

Early provided the council with a timeline for completion. He noted that the library staff is already preparing for the move from their current location in the River Community Church building (old elementary) back into the library. The estimation for the move is sometime in late March.

“We are on schedule for completion March 6th. The week of February 26th I think it is, or thereabouts, we will do the walk-thru for a bunch of us to see what needs to be addressed at that point,” Earley said.

The library was last dedicated on March 16th, 1910. Earley presented the idea of having a re-dedication ceremony once the project was completed.

“What we’d like to do, once the move is completed and once we’ve had time to figure out if everything is where it ought to be, we’d like to have a re-dedication ceremony, possibly in May. We would like this to be a community-significant event. It’s an important resource, and you guys have helped make it possible. It should be something significant in the life of our community,” he said.

Earley finally mentioned that the Library Board is constructing a short and long-term landscaping plan.

Library Director Brittany Moeller said, “I would add how appreciative we are to the community of Dell Rapids! Everyone has shown tremendous amounts of support during this project, and we are so excited to move back in! We have big plans for the new library, and we can’t wait to get them started!”

Library Project to Move Forward

June 25, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids Carnegie Library project will move forward after a decision made by the Dell Rapids City Council on Monday, June 16th. During the council’s regular meeting, the council voted to use general fund dollars to offset the gap the library had in their building fund for the addition/renovation project. The Council approved an amount of $360,000.

Prior to the approval by the council to give the library the amount of money needed to move the project forward, a proposal was defeated that would have loaned the amount to the library over a 10-year period of time. The vote for the loan was defeated with five ayes and two nays. A 2/3 majority was needed to approve that proposal.

City Councilman Dave Sommerfeld stated he would be in favor of the acceptance without the loan stipulation on the money. City Councilman Paul Miles moved to approve the amount without the loan stipulation. Councilman Mark Crisp seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Chad Andrews voting nay. Councilman Lee Burggraff was absent from the meeting. The approval of the $360,000 also brought some changes to the original plans. The SEH contract will be changed to reduce the amount of on-site visits from twelve to six, and attendance at meetings will be teleconference in order to save costs on the project.

Contracting Company Selected for Library Utility Relocation Project

March 22, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

The Dell Rapids City Council approved the bid from H&W Contracting from Sioux Falls, SD for the library utility project. Bids were publicly opened on Wednesday, March 5th, at the City Council Chambers. Two bids were received. Metro Construction of Sioux Falls, SD, submitted a bid of $122,716.50 and H&W Contracting submitted a bid of $107,296.00. Mike Kuno from SEH made the recommendation to accept the bid of H&W Contracting for the project. Library board Member Tom Early updated the city council about the bids of the utility project.

City Administrator Justin Weiland presented the council with an agreement from SEH for construction oversight for the utility project at a cost of $6,000.00.

City Council member Craig Lauritzen moved to accept the bid from H&W Contracting for the utility project. Council member Paul Miles seconded the motion. The motion passed. City Council member Mark Crisp made the motion to accept the agreement for SEH for the oversight of the project. Council member Gary Haak seconded the motion, and the motion passed.

Library Renovation/Expansion Project Update

January 26, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Tom Earley spoke on behalf of the Library Board at the last Dell Rapid City Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 21st. The Library Board has met with engineers to review the plans for the library renovation/expansion project. The board recommended to the City Council that the prior contract with SEH, Inc. be terminated and that the council approve a new contract that better covers the new scope of the project. Councilor Paul Miles moved to terminate the prior contract and approve the new contract with SEH. Councilor Mark Crisp seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

Earley and the council also held discussions on the utility replacement for the entire project. Earley told the council that the Library board held discussions with SEH about replacing the entire sewer line instead of just replacing part of the line. The approved changed in the scope of the utility replacement portion of the project adds an estimated additional $4,000 to the budget of the utility replacement, bringing that entire budget to just under $100,000. The Library Board is paying for the utility replacement project, however, the City Council has agreed to pay the contracting expenses. The Library Board recommended to the City Council to approve the bid letting for the utility replacement project, but councilor Lee Burggraff requested the amount SEH is requesting as contracting expenses be presented to the council prior to voting the approval of the bid letting. That amount was not available, so councilor Chad Andrews motioned to table the approval of bid letting until the next meeting. Councilor Gary Haak seconded that motion, and the motion carried to table the bid letting approval.

The Library Board has been in discussions with the Dell Rapids School Board about possibly relocating to the old elementary building during the renovation project.