BPL to hold Public Hearing regarding renovation project on Monday

"We hope (the community and council) can see that this is essential, it is necessary. We want to do what the community wants; hopefully the vote will align with that."

-BPL Director Chris Scandling

The County Council meets Monday at 9 a.m. The first thing on the agenda is public input. The meeting is open to the public.

The council meets at the County building, Room 203, located at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.

after the public gives their input, there will be a public hearing for the bremen Public Library (BPL) Project and General Obligation bonding.

The library had come before the council during the December 2020 meeting to dis

cuss the library’s renovation project and the bond that was needed to fund it. During that meeting there was some discussion on if there needed to be an official and advertised public hearing during a council meeting.

Todd Samuelson, from Baker Tilly, had contacted Ice Miller LLP, the bond counsel for the project, and stated that the statute didn’t require a public hearing of the County Council for approval of the bonds.

BPL Director Chris Scandling argued that the library had an aggressive public awareness campaign so that the public would be properly notified and informed.

“Short of hiring somebody to fly around in an airplane, dragging something, I don’t know what else we could do,” Anthony Wagner, attorney for the Bremen Public Library, agreed.

Ultimately, the council voted to table the matter until there could be a public hearing.

The library’s renovation is a proposed $3 million project, which would result in approximately $23 annually in taxes for residents of German Township.

This number is based on Baker Tilly’s estimate of the median Bremen home, valued at $140,000; the actual number should fall between $6 and $50 annually. The $3 million projkect

The following are some of the key points the renovation project wishes to address:

- Updating restrooms to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

- A sectioned off young adult room

- Additional space for community meetings and library programs, and small study spaces

- More accessible and easy to understand parking lot

- More storage space

- Replacing outdated cabling

- New carpet (the current is stained and torn)

- Atmospheric items including: outdoor seating, a fireplace and interactive children’s department structures

BPL Director previously said the focus of this project is to “attract families” and “highlight the new services in demand since our last renovation, 30 years ago.”

Letters to be shared with the council can be emailed to cscandling@bremen.lib.in.us. The public is also invited to attend the public hearing, which will take place during the Marshall County Council’s regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday in the Marshall County Building, 112 W. Jefferson St.

Questions on the renovation project can be directed to the library, which is open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit BPL at 304 N. Jackson St. or call 574-546-2849.

“We hope (the community and council) can see that this is essential, it is necessary,” Scandling said. “We want to do what the community wants; hopefully the vote will align with that.”

Other items on the agenda include:

• James Bendy, from the Probation Department, will present the IOCS Pre-trial Grant FY 2021-2022 request.

• Angie Birchmeier, County Treasurer, will present Ordinance 2021-04, which amends Ordinance 2010-17 Innkeepers Tax.

• Jason Peters, Highway Supervisor, will be requesting an additional $800,000 for road funding. If approved, Peters will be focusing on the 125 miles of county roads that are currently gravel.

• Ginny Munroe will request to apply for the OCRA COVID Phase III grant.

• The council will hear additional appropriation and transfer requests.