Don t tell Burns they can t succeed
Community successfully raises funds for city library project
Staff reporter
Miracles do happen now and then and generally occur with hard work and perseverance.
Burns, the "Little Town That Could," has done it again.
Bids were opened Thursday for renovations of the former post office to become Burns City Library and city hall.
A $50,000 grant and a $50,000 general obligation bond from USDA Rural Development already has been obtained by city officials. Additional funds were needed and within a few weeks, the money was in hand.
The bid for the project came in at approximately $192,000, which included architectural fees, attorney's fees for the bond issue, and a 10 percent construction contingency to cover possible over-runs.
The library board and members of the community had raised $91,050, with more money anticipated.
Former Burns city clerk Carolyn Koehn got the ball rolling five years ago.
It was determined a larger building was needed for the local library, which is currently housed in a two-room, oil field shack.
The city owned the former post office building and determined it would be adequate for the library and city offices.
"Originally, Rural Development offered $30,000 and the remainder be paid with a bond," said Koehn.
Later, the federal entity upped the ante to the $50,000 loan and $50,000 grant.
With $100,000 in hand, bids were solicited in the fall of 2004. The low bid was more than anticipated at $137,000.
"The council regrouped and we asked the library board for assistance," said Koehn. "Boy, have they stepped up to the plate!"
Barb Stuhlsatz, Burns Public Library Board president, contacted an acquaintance in Topeka who was familiar with a man who recently had made a sizable donation to the University of Kansas.
"This man donates to libraries," Stuhlsatz said.
She made contact with him and he donated $36,000 — just enough to cover the difference.
There were some changes made to the plan that were needed which left city officials and the library board anxious about the amount still needed.
An added stress was funds needed to be raised by the end of July in order to keep the grant, which gave the groups only a few weeks.
The goal was to raise $80,000 by July 31. On July 27, there had been $89,000 raised. How'd they do it?
More than 800 letters were mailed to residents, former residents, and businesses in the area.
Burns United Methodist Church sponsored an ice cream social and a chance to win a handmade wall hanging and opal necklace.
A wall in the library will honor all contributors, regardless of the amount. Every penny has been appreciated.
"We appreciate every contribution," Stuhlsatz said. "For some people, $15 is a lot of money, and for others $1,500 is nothing."
Stuhlsatz said about 50 percent of the donations were from local and area residents. The remaining donations were from outside the area and were larger.
From the beginning, this was a community project. Leaders promoted and encouraged support of the project but did not force it.
"We figured if the town didn't want this, residents should tell us and we wouldn't have done it," said Stuhlsatz.
Stuhlsatz, Koehn, and city council members believe the power of prayer had a lot to do with the outcome.
"If it was meant to be, it will happen," said Koehn.
The project
The proposed project is to renovate the former post office, a two-story, 100-year-old brick building located on South Washington Street, into a city library and city hall.
Two bids were opened Thursday by architect Vince Haines of Prigmore, Krievins, Haines, Limon of El Dorado.
The base bid included replacement of windows, asphalt shingle roof, sump pump, electrical, doors, walls, repair of the basement, and tuck pointing.
McCollom Construction of Augusta, was awarded the low bid of $155,800. Sutherland Builders presented a base bid of $172,400.
Haines said he was familiar with McCollom Construction.
"They're a competent group and I'm confident they will do a good job," said Haines.
Two additional bids were later added to bid specifications — a metal roof and decorative light fixtures for the library.
If a metal roof was used instead of an asphalt roof, the cost of the asphalt roof would be subtracted from the base bid and the cost of a metal roof ($8,900) would be added.
Haines recommended the city approve the additional expense of a metal roof but did not recommend the decorative lighting expense of $10,800.
It was not known at the bid opening if decorative lighting was to be added.
Other expenses added to the base price were $6,000 attorney's fees for the bond issue, $5,000 for architectural fees, and a possible 10 percent construction contingency at a maximum of $16,470.
Other possible expenses were additional tuck pointing at $6 per square foot, and removal and replacement of a sidewalk at $5 a square foot.
A letter of recommendation to approve the bid from McCollom Construction will be sent by Haines to the city and Rural Development. When the letter is approved by Rural Development, the city will be notified and can approve the project.
Don Madison of Rural Development, said his office will determine if sufficient funds are available to complete the project, and review the bids. The process which should take a week, said Madison.
When the project is approved and construction begins, the company anticipates completing the project within 140 calendar days.
Space problem
The current library, a small, white building, located across the street from city hall, houses approximately 3,500 books. An additional 3,700 books are in storage because there isn't sufficient space.
"We're a community of readers," said librarian Rhonda Loucks.
A recent survey indicated a large volume of books being checked out on a regular basis compared with other communities the size of Burns and larger.
The library provides books in three areas of interest religious and spiritual, children, and non-fiction.
Grants have been secured by the library for books, computers, Internet access, and other expenses associated with computer usage.
"The community has supported this library and we have everything we need to have a good library for the people in this area except a building," said Stulsatz.
Sentiment in the community is to have a highly functional library since the town no longer has any schools.
Members of the library board are Stuhlsatz, Laverna Parrish, Elise Brunhoeber, Barbara Anderson, Linda Wimberly, and Marci Ehrlich.
