Jo Co Commission, Library Discuss Kaycee Library Project

The Johnson County Library Board discussed their proposed project at the Kaycee Library and asked for guidance on how to proceed from the county commissioners.

Funding avenues so far have been a dead-end, and the board asked the commission about the possibility of pursuing a special-purpose one cent tax initiative during the upcoming general election this fall.

The project, according to discussions, will renovate the existing library building in Kaycee and build a small addition that will roughly double the available space, as well as make the building ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

The estimated cost of the project a couple of years ago at $1.8 million, according to Plan One Architects, who did the initial concepts on the project.

The board said, however, that they are looking at asking for upwards of $2.5 million in funding, to cover increases in costs and for a contingency for unforeseen costs.

Commission Chair Bill Novotny gave the board his idea on how they should move

forward.

Novotny said the funds, if put into the reserve account, will help pay for the increases in heat, air conditioning, and other maintenance costs they will accrue from adding space in the building.

The board will continue working toward putting their project on the November ballot.