2023
December 2023: The Euclid Public Library interviewed four firms to provide Construction Manager At-Risk Services for the upcoming renovation. The Board of Trustees authorized the Board President, Director and Fiscal Officer to enter negotiations with Turner Construction Company for the renovating, improving and equipping of the Euclid Public Library.
November 2023: Euclid residents voted for Issue 7, the 5.6 millage renewal operating levy and for Issue 8, the 1.5 millage Permanent Improvement levy. According to the unofficial voting results posted on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections' website, Issue 7 passed with 8,186 votes, a 67.44% approval rate, and Issue 8 passed with 7,134 votes, a 59.15% approval rate.
Euclid Public Library's Owner's Representative Roger Riachi from RFC Contracting attended the Building and Property Committee meeting to discuss the Bialosky Cleveland contract, next steps, a tentative renovation timeline and to answer questions. The Board of Trustees of the Euclid Public Library authorized the Fiscal Officer to work with Mike Sharb of Squire Patton Boggs to complete all paperwork and necessary filing to complete the PI levy financing option with PLF notes.
October 2023: Euclid Public Library posted a legal notice in the October 2, 2023 issue of The Plain Dealer newspaper and on its website soliciting statements of qualifications for a construction manager-at-risk for the renovating, improving and equipping of the Euclid Public Library.
July 2023: Euclid Public Library's Board of Trustees met and passed resolutions to proceed with placing a 5.6 millage renewal and a 1.5 millage Permanent Improvement (PI) levy on the ballot this November 7. The 5.6 millage renewal operating levy will cost the average $100,000 Euclid homeowner $131 per year and the 1.5 millage PI levy will cost the average $100,000 homeowner in Euclid $52 per year. The money generated will allow the Library to undertake significant improvements to the building.
Euclid School Board Members met on July 26, 2023 and passed a resolution in order for the Library to place the levies on the ballot.
Euclid Public Library's Board of Trustees passed a resolution approving the 2023 -- 2027 Strategic Plan.
June 2023: On June 20, 2023, Euclid Public Library’s Board of Trustees met in the Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting to discuss the Library Renovation levy. The Board adopted a Resolution for a 1.5-mil Permanent Improvement Levy, authorized the Director to enter contract negotiations with Bialosky, and authorized the Director to solicit statements of qualifications for Construction Manager At-Risk Services.
On June 23, 2023, the George Gund Foundation notified Director Armstrong that they “will not support [our] project.” They also noted that they “seldom support libraries…” This was disappointing news, but EPL Staff appreciated the opportunity to apply for funding. It should be noted that the Lincoln Electric Foundation declined to support the project, the Cleveland Foundation declined to support the project (unless a majority of funding had already been raised), and the remaining organizations did not respond to the campaign letter.
May 2023: Euclid Public Library’s Owner’s Representative Roger Riachi from RFC Contracting attended the Personnel & Finance Meeting to update the Board on the possible timeline and answer questions. Attorneys Mike Sharb & Matthew Sagone from Squire Patton Boggs were on hand to present options for renewing the current library operating levy and issuing a new Public Improvement (PI) levy. The current library operating levy is 5.6-mil with the last collection year of 2023. If the levy renewal is placed on the November 2023 ballot and is approved by the voters, the levy renewal period will start in 2025 and run for five years.
The PI levy is also recommended to be on the November 2023 ballot for 1.5-mil. The PI levy will generate approximately $13.5 million for the library renovation project. The PI levy has a 30-year pay back term. If the PI levy is approved by voters in November 2023, the library will receive funding in 2023.
Currently, Administration is proposing an $18 million budget for the renovation unless the library receives donations from any future grant petitions.
April 2023: Director Armstrong and new Deputy Director Karla Bowman provided an update to the Strategic Planning process. To enhance the plan and ensure that we are not missing any critical components, Director Armstrong and Deputy Director Bowman announced that they would be hosting community stakeholder visits. The Director and Deputy Director toured schools, the City, and other Euclid organizations to help give guidance to the plan.
On April 18, 2023 during the Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting, the Board received an updated tentative timeline from Roger Riachi with RFC Contracting.
March 2023: The Board of Trustees approved a Resolution to allow the Director and Fiscal Officer to apply for $21.5 million in funding from the George Gund Foundation.
The application was fully submitted on March 15, 2023. The full description of the materials submitted was included in the March 2023 Board Packet.
Director Armstrong thanked Mayor Gail, Chamber Executive Director Dana Heil, Euclid Police Sergeant Vashon Williams, Superintendent Papourous, Friends of the Library Board President Roberta Gibbons, and Euclid Art Association President Lee Peters for writing letters of support.
February 2023: The Board of Trustees met on February 21, 2023 to discuss an application for the George Gund Foundation. As noted at prior Committee meetings, there is approximately $5 million in the Building Fund available for use towards the renovation/rebuild project. In order to proceed, the library needs to apply for grants and seek private donations. As noted in the January Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting, there is also the opportunity to borrow against the Public Library Fund or seek bond approval from the community.
The Board of Trustees of Euclid Public Library approved a Resolution authorizing the Director and Fiscal Officer to apply for the grant.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System hosted Strategic Planning Retreats with the Euclid Public Library Leadership Team on February 9th.
The first draft of the Strategic Plan was sent to Euclid Public Library.
January 2023: Attorney Mike Sharb from Squire Patton Boggs participated in the January 17, 2023 Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting regarding Euclid Public Library’s borrowing capacity to support a capital campaign. This was a review of Ohio Revised Code Section 3375.404 (B).
Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat with the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System on January 20, 2023.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System hosted Strategic Planning Retreats with the Euclid Public Library staff on January 19 & 25.
Stakeholders and patrons are encouraged to stay up-to-date during the Library renovation project by visiting the Library Renovation section of the website, signing up for our eNewsletter, and following us on social media.