APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Bids for renovations of the Appleton Public Library came in $14 million over the budget of $40.4 million, so Mayor Jake Woodford is recommending they be rejected and the project re-evaluated. As a result, groundbreaking will be delayed.
The library is embarking on a $40 million renovation project, with city taxpayers expected to pay $26.4 million. Another $2 million comes from federal COVID-19 relief. Friends of Appleton Public Library is working to raise the remaining $12 million.
Bids for the project were due Tuesday. Despite a delay in the bidding deadline and other efforts to reduce costs, those bids far exceeded the hoped-for amounts.
Woodford said city leadership agreed on several parameters of how to move forward:
“First, we were clear that we will not ask our local taxpayers to absorb the higher cost of the project. Additionally, we cannot expect the fundraising campaign to increase its target to fill the gap. Finally, we agreed that we are not willing to compromise on the quality or longevity of the building – simply put, we are committed to doing this project the right way. With those understandings in place, we were left with the decision of how to move forward. While we recognize that inflation is affecting construction pricing, there are inexplicably high costs in a number of bids, which are unacceptable to the City. Therefore, we intend to recommend to the Common Council that all bids be rejected, allowing the project team to rework the design and scope and re-bid. To best align with industry timelines and maximize our competitive position in the marketplace, we anticipate going back out to bid in early 2023,” he said in a letter to the community Wednesday afternoon.
“In the meantime, the project team will be working to reevaluate every detail of the project to identify opportunities to further reduce costs. Some of this work may include adjustments to the square footage of the building and aesthetic details. We are unwavering in our commitment to minimizing the impact of these changes on the quality, beauty, and functionality of the Appleton Public Library building,” Woodford said.
The city council’s Finance Committee is expected to discuss the project next week.
The city had hoped to award bids in October and start construction later this year, with an opening in 2024. Opening has now been pushed to 2025.
While work continues at the downtown location, the library is being housed at the former Best Buy store on Kensington Drive.
Some residents that spoke to FOX 11 say they’re okay with the delay, because they like the library’s current location.
“I love this location. It’s very close to my house, and where I teach,” said teacher Katie Boegh. “And I can come pick out books for my class, very easily, like I did today.”
But others would appreciate a move back downtown.
“I think I would prefer it to stay downtown, just because I feel like it’s more of a central area,” said Appleton resident, Alyssa Hutchison. “More people might go to it, if it’s downtown. I live over by the airport, so downtown is definitely closer for me than coming all the way over here.”
In the meantime, the temporary library will continue to operate. The mayor says this delay is necessary to rescale expectations.
“As a city, we have to maintain our commitment to doing things the right way,” said Woodford. “And sometimes that means we have to slow down. We have to take a step back. It’s exactly what we’re doing right now.”
City leaders say once the project moves forward it will be a 14-16 month process.
Library Director Colleen Rortvedt has this message for those who may be worried about the upcoming changes: “We’re going to preserve the beautiful design that the community has fallen in love with. It might have some changes to it, but we’re going to move forward and give the community the library it deserves.”
Between now and January, leaders will revise the schedule for the project. They are hoping for new bids in early January.
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