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Council OKs library furniture purchase; construction bids to return in January
Summary
Urbandale council approved a $204,000 low bid for library furniture and continued the public hearing on library interior renovation bids so construction contracts can be finalized at the Jan. 6 meeting; staff said construction would begin Feb. 2 and aim to be done by June 30.
The City Council approved purchase of furniture for the planned interior renovation of the Urbandale Public Library and continued the construction contract decision to the council’s Jan. 6 meeting.
Library Director Nicholas summarized usage and patron demand, saying the library checked out about 540,000 items last fiscal year and recorded roughly 207,000 visits. He described the renovation scope: new adult seating, an enclosed reading room, two individual study rooms and four group study rooms, relocated children’s and teen spaces, and new customer‑service desks to improve staff workflow.
Nicholas reported three furniture bids and recommended awarding the work to LFI, the low bidder at about $204,000 (below the consultant estimate of $225,000). He said nine construction bids were received and the low construction bid was from Burkett Construction at $306,631 (OPN estimate $425,000); staff is finalizing contract language with the city attorney and will return Jan. 6 for contract approval. Nicholas said anticipated construction would begin Feb. 2 with a June 30 completion goal to minimize disruption before summer reading programs.
Council approved the furniture purchase (item 9.2) by motion and voted to continue the public hearing and contract decision to Jan. 6. During questions, council members pressed staff on how the library would remain open during work; Nicholas said most work can be staged to minimize closures and that brief closures of a day or two may be needed for noisy tasks such as cutting into a concrete floor.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the construction contract with the city attorney and present it for council approval on Jan. 6; furniture delivery and installation scheduling will follow.
