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Library trustees tell county library building needs could total about $20 million over 20 years
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Summary
Trustees presented a September facilities condition assessment citing immediate needs — failed restrooms, HVAC, elevator and exterior masonry — and a 20‑year capital forecast that could reach roughly $20 million, while stressing they were not asking for immediate county funding.
Library trustees told the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners the county library building faces a list of aging systems and components that will require substantial investment over time.
"In the next 20 years, they're projecting in the report that we'll be expending close to $20,000,000 on this facility," Chris Mullen, president of the library board of trustees, said during the trustees' presentation to the commission. He summarized a September facilities condition assessment that reviewed 105 line items and graded components from "failed" to "excellent." The report identified restrooms as failed and listed the roof, elevator, HVAC units and exterior masonry among near‑term priorities.
Mullen and Kathy Carr, vice president of the board, said most items were graded "fair," meaning they are functioning but show wear and are at risk of failing. Trustees said the building includes portions that date to 1910 and additions from 1925 and 1953, and that the county, not the library budget, typically covers facility repairs.
A resident who spoke during the discussion urged the library and county to build public support for a new facility. "You've got to convince a community to do this," the resident said, recommending broad outreach and a visible presentation of a potential new library's appearance.
Commissioners said they support the library and asked trustees to return with prioritized cost estimates for the top short‑term items, such as restroom repairs and HVAC work, so the county can consider them in the upcoming budget. "If you had numbers for your top priority restrooms, I'd like to see them," one commissioner said.
Trustees emphasized they were bringing the assessment to the board to warn of likely failures and to ask the county to plan, not to request immediate funding. "We're not asking for money. We're not asking to have it fixed. We're not asking for a new building," a trustee said, adding that trustees wanted the commission to have a prewarning about systems that will fail.
The board did not take formal action on the assessment at the meeting; commissioners asked staff and trustees to continue planning and to supply cost estimates for urgent repairs.
