BonnerSprings.com

Pending final approval from the Bonner Springs Library Board, the new library will soon be equipped with new items totaling $42,277.

In a work session prior to Monday night’s City Council meeting, council members discussed the purchase of several new items, which library director Kim Beets said had been identified over the course of more than six months of being open.

“These are needs outside of what was originally planned,” said Beets of items that will include speakers for the meeting room, staff computers and security cameras. “It’s ben helpful to kind of live in the building and just kind of see what some of your needs are you didn’t expect.”

Council member Lloyd Mesmer questioned the need for adding additional expense to the already completed budget. Recalling the number of change orders seen during the library’s construction, he said these were items that should have been in the original building contract.

Both city manager John “Jack” Helin and Beets said there was nothing in the original plan that could have predicted the items that are now needing to be purchased.

“These are things we wouldn’t have thought about initially,” Beets said.

The money spent will come out of the remaining bond issue for the library, which is $76,596. Helin said the balance left over would go immediately toward beginning to pay off those library bonds.

The council gave its positive consensus toward the expenditures, and Beets said she would take their decision to the Library Board for final approval.

“And I think they’ll be pretty excited about it,” Beets said.

More of this story can be found in the Feb. 11 issue of the Chieftain.

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