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Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library request $16,000 from Wapello County to finish renovation
Summary
Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library told supervisors they have raised $384,628 to date and are asking the county for $16,000 to complete a $52,168 interior phase so the renovated library can open fully and provide community meeting space.
Representatives of the Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library updated the Wapello County Board of Supervisors on their renovation of an old repair shop into a permanent library and asked the board to consider a $16,000 county contribution to complete an interior installation phase.
Cheryl Talbert (named in the transcript as director of the Blakesburg Public Library) and the Friends’ representatives said the group has raised roughly $384,628 in donations, grants and fundraising to date. They said earlier grants and county support helped finish the building’s east end and HVAC, and that the Friends have received a recent construction bid of about $52,168 to complete phase‑one interior work (demolition, framing, electrical and some installation). The Friends said they will contribute about $20,214 toward the work and are seeking the board’s consideration for $16,000 to finish the contracted installation; they are pursuing additional grants to close the remaining gap.
Presenters described plans to create separate areas for teens, adults and children and said finishing the building will restore a community meeting room previously lost when the local community building was sold. Board members asked for account details and agreed to add the funding request to a future agenda for consideration.
The presentation included a list of past donors, fundraising totals and expenditures; presenters emphasized community partnerships and growing local support for the project.
