Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Vernon Area Library presents plans for 22,000 sq ft expansion, plans building referendum for district voters
Loading...
Summary
Library director Anne Rasmussen told the Village Board the Vernon Area Public Library District plans a renovation and 22,000 sq ft expansion and intends to place a 20-year building referendum before district voters; she estimated an impact of about $11 per month ($135/yr) on a median Vernon Hills home in the affected district.
Anne Rasmussen, executive director of the Vernon Area Public Library District, told the Village Board on April 21 that the library has preliminary designs for a renovation and expansion of its Lincolnshire campus and plans to seek voter approval for a building referendum.
Rasmussen said the project would renovate the main building, add about 12,000 square feet and return a 1974-era annex to public use for roughly 10,000 square feet of usable space, for a total net increase of roughly 22,000 square feet. She described the proposal as a response to sustained growth in demand: the district has 30% more residents than when the building opened, houses 62% more materials, has seen a 69% increase in checkouts and a large rise in program attendance.
"We've run out of space," Rasmussen said. "We have one meeting room for nearly 1,200 programs a year. We could easily offer this class three times or more to meet community demand if we had the space." She added that maker-space classes and evening teen use frequently fill available spaces and that fire-code limits force the library to turn away attendees for some programs.
Rasmussen said the district will seek a fixed, 20-year referendum limited to building costs (not operations) and that the district serves about 1,600 Vernon Hills homes. Using the village's median home value of about $412,000, she estimated the local tax impact at roughly $11 per month, or $135 annually, for affected property owners. She said a tax-calculator will be added to the library project web page so residents can see a household-level estimate.
The director also noted the district plans to use savings to address deferred building systems, including replacing a 34-year-old HVAC system and installing more energy-efficient equipment that would also help the district reach a net-zero goal by 2035.
Board members did not object to the presentation and thanked Rasmussen; she offered to return for further questions and said staff will post the executive summary and supporting materials online.
Next steps: the district will finalize designs with its architects, post the tax calculator and schedule follow-up meetings with local elected officials before a formal referendum placement decision.
