By ALYSIA ANDREWS
Plans for the American Fork library are not going as expected.
The library had anticipated signing a contract with a doctor, who had extra office space, but he withdrew the contract because the city council had taken too long to decide for sure if the library would be housed there.
“Doctor Grant felt enough time had already elapsed,” said Don Hampton, AF City Council member.
Mark Grant, the owner of the office space, had been working with the library planning committee since November. The doctor’s office was to be a temporary location for the library while their new building is under construction.
“I was really angry at the city council meeting,” said Christie Reimschussel, the AF library director. “Since then we have had the chance to look at another space, and I feel really good about it.”
After the last meeting, a former city council member, James Hansen, recalled that the city had purchased the Alpine School District warehouse a few months before.
The council has looked at the warehouse, finding additional benefits not included at the doctor’s office.
Reimschussel said the library will not have to pay any rent at the warehouse because the city owns the property. The doctor’s office would have charged the library $1,200 to $1,400 a month.
The warehouse also has 6,000 square feet, while the office space only offered 4,000 square feet, she said.
“I don’t see any problems with the warehouse,” Hampton said. “It offers us everything.”
He said the only question is where library patrons will park. But there is a good chance the patrons could park across the street.
The library planners will meet Monday to finalize the decision about the warehouse.
If the warehouse is approved, it will require renovations which might delay ground breaking, Hampton said.
Reimschussel doesn’t believe the renovations will move the ground breaking date back. Ground breaking is scheduled on April 1.
The bond money saved from not renting the office will go towards the renovations of the warehouse and for construction, Reimschussel said.
“It is a very high likelihood that this will all happen quickly and smoothly,” Hampton said.
