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Hudson Library Foundation outlines multi‑phase renovation, seeks county support and final fundraising push
Summary
Presenters told the Town Board a multi‑phase Hudson Library renovation would add study rooms, a young‑adult space, an outdoor pavilion and trails; they described roughly $600,000 in exterior work and about $910,000 for interior work and said 80–85% of interior funds are raised.
Andy Schmarr, president of the Hudson Library Foundation, and foundation partners presented a multi‑phase renovation plan to the Town Board on Nov. 20, 2025, asking the board to support exterior work that would begin this winter and to coordinate with Macon County on potential funding support.
Schmarr said the library — founded with donations in 1884 and incorporated in 1927 — is a community hub that averages roughly 123 visitors per day and logged thousands of internet sessions last year. He described the foundation’s role as owner of the building and grounds and the library’s relationship with the Fontana Regional Library System and Macon County under a long‑standing lease arrangement.
Philip (Hudson Library Foundation) walked the board through interior and site plans the team has developed with McMillan Paddington Smith, Jeff Weller of Summit Architecture and landscape architect Hank Ross. The interior changes described include converting the audio‑visual room into two study rooms and a conference room, new furniture and shelving throughout, and a dedicated young‑adult area. Site improvements include a covered pavilion that would open off the meeting room, a storage building, a water feature and woodland trails with native plantings and benches. Presenters emphasized accessibility: the back patio and pavilion are designed for level, handicap‑accessible access from the parking area.
Hank Ross described the pavilion and landscaping plan, including a roughly 300‑square‑foot patio and a pavilion footprint described during the presentation; he said plantings will be native, that donors have pledged mature specimen trees, and that the library aims to retain established trees on the site.
On financing, presenters gave multiple cost figures. They described exterior enhancements at about $590,000 (rounded in discussion to “about $600,000”) and interior renovations described as approximately $910,000; presenters also used a verbal figure for total cost during the slide deck that was not numerically consistent in every slide. Schmarr said the foundation has raised about 80–85% of the money needed for interior work and plans to begin exterior work this winter because planting season is favorable. He said the foundation will present to the county board in December as part of an effort to secure county support and complete fundraising for interior work by next summer.
Schmarr and partners noted practical matters: exterior work will not require closing the library; interior renovations may require a 3–4 week closure and would be scheduled to minimize disruption. The foundation named Futrell Enterprises as the general contractor for exterior work and Ryerson Grading for site preparation; they said a landscape contractor has not yet been selected. The foundation indicated it will sign a contract with Futrell Enterprises in the coming week, then pull permits with town and county staff and return to the board with progress updates.
Mayor and commissioners thanked presenters, and the mayor suggested that after the county indicates any commitment, the foundation should return to the board to discuss possible town partnering.
Ending: Presenters left the board with a plan to start exterior work soon, to seek county support at the county board’s December meeting, to complete fundraising for interior work by next summer, and to schedule interior work to limit library closure.
