By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library and other libraries in the county are asking the county commissioners for $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to be used for capital projects.
Library Director Michael Penrod told trustees on Monday that because of the unique way that libraries are organized in Ohio, they, as separate political subdivisions, are not eligible to apply for those funds on their own. So, WCDPL and the libraries in Perrysburg, North Baltimore, Pemberville, Rossford, Wayne, and Weston have banded together to request a share of the county’s funds.
Each library, Penrod said, has different needs. They could be used for solar panels, made locally by First Solar, on the Walbridge branch. Way Library in Perrysburg needs a new roof, and WCDPL needs to replace it’s heating plant at a cost of $250,000. It is also in the early stages of planning for a major renovation and expansion project.
The funds would be divided up the same way that the state’s public library fund is distributed through the county budget commission.
WCDPL gets 36.18 percent and Perrysburg 24.55 percent with the others getting smaller slices.
These would be “foundational funds” for the libraries that would touch every library user in the county, Penrod said.
In the letter to the commissioners, the library directors noted that a recent study shows that libraries have an impact of more than $35 million on the county’s economy.
Penrod also let trustees know that it looks like the state public library fund will again exceed budget projections. The library expects to get about $1 million. Last year it received $1.1 million.
The public library fund is generated by 1.7 percent of state revenues. Those are up this year.
Penrod, though, is cautious looking beyond this year. A recession could cut those payments. Also, a state income tax reduction would also reduce the fund.
When the library gets more than it has budgeted for, he said, it’s careful to squirrel away those dollars for future needs.
When the library received pipeline payments, it did not expend those on operational expenses. Instead they were set aside for one-time needs, Penrod said.
Those funds were spent purchasing the house, just to the north of the Carter House on South Church Street.
The library recently took possession of the house at 309-311 S. Church St. The trustees approved the purchase last fall for $179,000. The library waited until the tenants’ leases were up. The utilities were turned off on May 26, and it will take 45 days to vacate the gas line.
So far $122,000 of pipeline money was used for the project with another payment of more than $40,000 expected for this year.
The library is looking at bids to raze the structure.
Once it is taken down later this summer, the plot will be seeded.
Penrod said they hope to have grass growing in time for the Black Swamp Arts Festival.
Eventually, the library plans to use the lot to build a carriage house style storage facility on the site. That could be in 2024, Penrod said.
The library needs storage space, he said.
The plans are to have a design that complements the style of the nearby Carter House.
They are also cognizant of the need to preserve the slope in the rear of the house and the wall in front. If need be, the library director said, the wall from Carter House could be extended to prevent erosion.
Trustees President Brian Paskvan said that a walk-through of the building did not reveal anything inside worth preserving. Some appliances will be removed and sold.
They did learn that the previous tenants, college students, reported feeding a “wild cat” in the basement. They never saw the “cat,” which turned out to be a raccoon.
