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Emery County delays library accessibility projects to 2026 budget season; seeks matching funds
Summary
The Emery County Local Building Authority heard a request from the county library for $135,334 in local matching funds for accessibility and efficiency upgrades at the Huntington and Castle Dale libraries and voted to address the request during the 2026 budget process to preserve grant eligibility.
The Emery County Local Building Authority on Sept. 2 considered a funding request from the Emery County Library Board for upgrades at two branch libraries and agreed to handle the request through the county’s 2026 budget process.
Desiree, a library representative, told the board the library is estimating the combined cost of projects at Huntington and Castle Dale at about $203,000 and asked for $135,334 in local matching funds. She described projects at Huntington that include replacing damaged flooring to complete an ADA transition after a front-door modification, repairing windows, and adding an accessible bathroom. At Castle Dale, she described mold and subfloor damage that requires replacing flooring and sections of subfloor, replacing windows, adding ceiling insulation and widening the front entrance, and installing an ADA-compliant opener and exterior handrail.
Desiree told commissioners the library is pursuing a separate grant for small and rural community accessibility work and that the grant has an April 30 application deadline. She said she believes the board could prepare materials in time if the county delayed the funding decision until the 2026 budget season and use a combination of library funds and county capital-project funds as matching dollars.
Commissioners discussed whether to use Local Building Authority (LBA) funds or the county capital projects fund; several commissioners noted LBA no longer has an ongoing revenue source after mineral lease money was reallocated to special service districts, and that the county has historically used capital projects funding for building maintenance. Commissioner Kevin Jensen moved, and Commissioner Jordan Leonard seconded, that the board address the library request during the 2026 budget season and prepare to meet the April 30 grant deadline. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Jensen, Leonard and Commissioner Dennis Warwood voting aye.
Board members said the practical effect of the motion is to route the request through the normal county budgeting process rather than draw on LBA funds; staff indicated the library’s portion would likely come from the library’s own fund while the county’s portion would be included in capital projects budgeting for 2026.
No specific appropriation or contract award was made at the Sept. 2 meeting; commissioners instructed staff to include the project and match considerations in the 2026 budget process and to prepare grant materials to meet the April 30 deadline if necessary.
