Muskego Library to close front lot for days during scaled‑back repaving; contractor, timing set

The Muskego Library Board was told May 20 that a repaving project will cover two‑thirds of the library parking lot and will require partial or full closures in August, Sam, the library director, said.

The board was told the project was bid to Wolf Paving and will include the entrance off Janesville Road, one side of the public lot and an extended concrete pad near the dumpster that staff said is being reinforced to withstand garbage‑truck loads. Sam said bids and inflation prevented the library from repaving the whole lot.

Sam, the library director, said, “We are able to do 2 thirds of the lot, not the full lot.” Sam said Wolf Paving “got the bid,” and that the contractor reported it would pour multiple concrete areas at the same time for efficiency, a sequencing decision that will increase the area of the lot that must be closed at once. “We are gonna have to close the library for a certain amount of days. I don’t know how many yet,” Sam added.

Library leaders told the board they expect some days to be curbside‑only — when side parking is usable — and some days to be full building closures while concrete cures and heavy equipment is on site. The director said the contractor recommended simultaneous pours and estimated a closure “for a minimum of 5 days, more than likely” during the busiest construction phase; exact dates will depend on contractor scheduling and weather.

Funding for the scaled‑back scope is tight. The director told the board the project was about $10,000 short of being able to cover more work and that the mayor located additional funds to close that gap; no additional contingency funds were available. The library also said it had held off scheduling other in‑service closures to limit community disruption, and that staff will use some closure days for training and remote tasks.

Board members asked whether the library could stay open using the Parkland Drive entrance while work is staged; staff explained the contractor’s sequencing and mobilization costs made that infeasible in early planning meetings. Director Sam said the entrance and dumpster concrete pads are being poured at the same time to avoid dual mobilizations.

Library staff said they will notify patrons well in advance via the library website and social media when the contractor sets firm dates and will run curbside service on days when limited side access is possible. The board did not take a formal vote about the contract at the meeting; the item described the contractor award, schedule constraints and operational impacts.

The library will update the public once the contractor confirms mobilization and exact closure days.