During a special meeting of the Fennimore City Council on May 29, a bid from the general contractor McKee Associates out of Madison was approved for the upcoming remodeling/expansion of the Dwight T. Parker Public Library.

McKee Associates came recommended by FEH Design, the library’s project manager, and based on research they are “very reputable with a good name,” according Dwight T. Parker Public Library Director Cathy Smith. 

With the approved bid, “things are now in motion,” for construction to begin soon according to Smith. 

Among the “items in motion,” according to FEH Design are final review and official signature of McKee Associate as contractors, a pre-construction meeting, which according to Smith should take place the middle of this month, and lastly, final authorization from the state to proceed with the library expansion/remodeling project. 

Smith also stated that McKee “has a goal” to stage the construction site on June 30. 

Addiotnally, a groundbreaking ceremony at the library will take place by July 1, according to Smith. 

Even with the $4,250,000 grant fund awarded towards the library’s approximate 6,000 sq. ft. expansion/remodeling project through the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration’s “leftover funds grant” given to them for the Flexible Facilities Program,  the generous funds donated to the library since the grant was announced last October, Smith stated that fundraising is continuing for possible cost increases during the construction project. 

“If at the end we end up with a surplus, we will still use the donated funds. An endowment fund would be set up for the library to host events, classes, etc,” Smith explained. “It will still go into the library to continue all our services for years to come.”

Once construction is well underway, the library will have to move to a temporary location. 

“We tentatively have a temporary space located for us to continue our daily operation,” Smith stated. “We’re just waiting to finalize everything, which hopefully is soon.”

During that temporary move, Smith explained that obviously only a portion of their circulated  materials will be housed due to space,  but she did say the library’s hours should remind the same with computers, copier, and fax services still being available. Storytime will still be offered at the temporary location as well. 

Smith lastly stated they do have two locations as options to store the library’s non-circulated materials during their temporary move.