APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton city leaders have voted down a plan to purchase properties on the Fox River Bluffs in order to build a new library.
The deal rejected on an 8-6 vote Wednesday would have paid $3 million to relocate Trinity Lutheran Church and Fox Banquets.
During the crowded common council meeting, nearly 50 people spokes about the proposed $37 million library project. That number was roughly split in half between support and opposition.
“As a taxpayer I’m getting very, very concerned as far as where our dollars are going and I do not believe that the bluffs site is the best site for the library,” Laura Leimer said, according to FOX 11.
Opponents of the plan say while they support improving the library, the bluffs site is inaccessible and too costly. Supporters argued the site is the best fit for the future library’s needs and preventing future operating costs from going up.
“Shouldn’t we choose now not to spend more money to keep running the library? Every alternative to the bluffs site would cost more to run by added service points,” Josh Dukelow said, according to FOX 11.
“I don’t think truly that we have explored long and hard about doing something with our current, existing site and so there’s just too many unanswered questions. Like Paul Harvey used to say, ‘and now you know the rest of the story,’ I had pushed all along for more of the story if we did build on that site and the information never came,” said Ald. Curt Konetzke.
Mayor Tim Hanna expressed disappointment with the vote, saying the library board will have to come up with a new plan for a future library. Hanna said the bluffs site is no longer on the table.
