Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Muskego library to close some days in August as parking-lot repair proceeds with reduced scope
Summary
Library staff told the Muskego Library Board that inflation and high bids reduced the planned parking-lot work to roughly two-thirds of the project; Wolf Paving won the contract and the library expects short closures in August, with curbside service on some days and full closure on others.
The Muskego Library Board heard detailed plans on May 20 for a scaled-back parking-lot reconstruction that will require closing the library for some days when concrete pours and heavy equipment are on site.
Board members were told the project was bid with the city road program and came in higher than estimated. "We are able to do two thirds of the lot, not the full lot," Sam, a library staff member reporting on building updates, told the board. Wolf Paving won the contract, and work will include widening and repaving the Janesville Road entrance, repaving the main public area on the Parkland side and adding reinforced concrete near the dumpster.
Why it matters: the work will affect patrons’ access and some scheduled services. Sam said the contractor recommended pouring multiple concrete pads at once for efficiency, which means the front public parking area will be shut down during those pours. "We are going to have to close the library for a certain amount of days," Sam said; the staff estimated the closure window would be in August and could include a week of curbside-only service or full closure depending on curing and contractor sequencing.
Board members pressed for alternatives to full closure. Trustee Dave asked whether the library could remain open using the Parkland Drive entrance while the Janesville Road apron was poured. Sam said the contractor’s first meeting indicated the apron and the reinforced dumpster pad would be poured together and that the mobilization cost made separate pours inefficient. "I asked if they could be poured at different points in the project. They said no — efficiency when they have the stuff there," Sam said.
Funding and schedule: Sam told the board the project exhausted available budget and that the mayor found roughly $10,000 to cover a shortfall. The library will use funds from the system and trust fund and some parking-lot capital money. The board was told that, because of the tight budget, there is little or no contingency to stage work to reduce closures. Sam summarized: "We have no wiggle room. We are using every single cent to get this far. In fact, we actually did go before council because we were $10,000 short, and the mayor was able to find some money."
Operational impacts and mitigation: On days when vehicle access permits, the library plans to provide curbside service; on days when equipment and concrete curing make access unsafe, it will be fully closed. Staff will use saved in-service days for staff training offsite and will continue back-office tasks (processing materials, cataloging and planning) while the building is inaccessible. Sam said staff parking and on-site work can continue even on building-closure days, reducing pressure to cut payroll or hours for personnel.
What’s next: Sam said the project kickoff occurred the week of the meeting and that contractors anticipate an August work window, weather permitting. The board asked staff to notify patrons well in advance via the library website and social media and to use curbside services where possible. No formal board vote was required on the project update during the May 20 meeting.
Ending: The board will get follow-up scheduling details and firm closure dates as the contractor finalizes the work plan and concrete curing schedule; staff pledged to post updates to the library’s website and Facebook page when dates are confirmed.
