A recommendation to reject all bids received on the proposed renovation and expansion of the Walter E. Olson Memorial Library in Eagle River will be made by the library building committee to the board of trustee's when they meet March 23 and to look at a major change of direction.
The three bids were all higher than expected and exceeded available funding. They ranged from $3.8 million to $4.1 million and in some cases had a wide variance of price quoted for similar equipment.
Although library attorney Larry Bechler outlined an option of building privately, building committee chair Jill Kunes indicated no decision was made on what options and directions should be considered. “Our committee will recommendation to the full board of trustees to reject all three bids,” Kunes said. “Our construction manager, Jeff Visner, will outline options including building privately as a fiscally responsible way to reduce costs and have local control.”
Kunes repeated the trustee's goal is to build a very modern, forward looking library, and not just a warehouse for books and to continue fund raising.
