SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that a contract be approved for new carpeting in the public library in the amount of $284,961.
The city owns the building where the Decatur Public Library is located. The library rents just over 75% of the space in this building. Under the terms of the lease, the city is responsible for improvements to the building, and the Library Board is responsible for replacing and upgrading their own furnishing and equipment.
Several improvements to this building are planned in 2023. The City Council's budget includes funding to resurface the roof, replace the building's chiller, repair exterior retaining walls, replace carpet in a portion of the lower level, and make other minor repairs and security improvements.
The Library Board of Trustees requested that the city replace the carpet under the shelving units because the Board (at its expense) plans to replace most of their shelving units, and they are trying to coordinate the shelving and carpet replacement projects to occur at roughly the same time so as to minimize the amount of time the library will be closed to patrons.