In Egg Harbor, Library Fundraising Moves Forward With $4 Million Goal

More conceptual drawings of the proposed Egg Harbor Library/community center were revealed.

Village of Egg Harbor: It’s full speed ahead for the proposed $3.57 million, 9,200 square foot library/community building in the Village of Egg Harbor.

At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Library Ad Hoc Committee got a more detailed look at the design of the building as envisioned by the design team at HGA. The committee was also provided with the $3.57 million price tag, with, HGA team leader Jim Vander Heiden suggested, a contingency fund that raises the fundraising goal to $4 million.

The HGA team also offered two options going forward – call a halt to meetings and preparations until the fundraising goal is met and plan on a fall 2017 opening, or full steam ahead and raise funds as the work continues for a May 2017 opening.

Committee member Bart Ahern said he was in “sticker shock” and his first inclination was to put more money in the bank before any more is spent, but committee member Judy Ortiz said the committee has enough money in the bank to proceed as fundraising continues, and the rest of the committee agreed that momentum on the project should continue. Committee members also felt that missing member Carol Kress would want the project to continue. Her husband, Don Kress is leading the fundraising effort and has already committed $500,000 to the project.

There are still many details to be worked out regarding the building, including how green the village wants to make it. Vander Heiden said the building as envisioned could easily earn the certified or silver status, but for a higher green certification, it would take a greater investment with a longer payback time in energy savings.

The next meeting of the committee is at 1 pm on Jan. 21.

City of Sturgeon Bay: The Finance/Purchasing & Building Committees meet at 4 pm on Dec. 29.