Library board asks city for up to $2.5 million to fund scaled-back expansion

The Lake Mills library board and Director Gerard urged the City Council on July 15 to back a $4.5 million expansion of the LD Fargo Library and to prepare a resolution committing up to $2.5 million of city support to unlock matching donations and grant opportunities.

The board presented a feasibility study and a one-story design that would roughly double the buildings usable space and devote more than half of the new area to childrens services, new meeting rooms, study spaces and a mothers room for infant care. "We're too small," Gerard said repeatedly, describing limited shelf space, programs that must be staged at nearby Wallace Park and events in which people were turned away for lack of room. The board said the library now serves about 10,000 people in Lake Mills and surrounding communities.

Why it matters: The board said the project responds to clear demand for expanded early-literacy programming, tutoring and teen space, and that a city resolution is a critical step to secure pledged private funds and grant deadlines. Robin Us, a library board member and campaign planning committee participant, told the council that outside donors are waiting for a city commitment and that the campaign needs a decision by August to meet grant timetables.

Details: The library presented historical context (building opened 1902; modest additions and a remodel over decades), program statistics and a proposed budget showing $4.5 million total cost. The board said it aims to raise $1.5 million through a capital campaign and requested that the city include up to $2.5 million in its 2027 borrowing plan as authorized by the referendum. Michelle, speaking as a library-board representative in the presentation, said the one-story option was chosen after a two-story design escalated to $13 million.

Council concerns and next steps: Council members pressed for clearer, apples-to-apples comparisons of what was scaled back from earlier two-story plans and for precise operational impacts (staffing, ADA accessibility). Councilmember Mary asked for assurance that the $2.5 million ask matches the referendums intent and for transparency about how the proposed borrowing would fit the citys 2027 capital-improvement program. Drake, the city manager, explained the referendum is advisory (an upper limit) and noted that the resolution would direct staff to include the project in the CIP and 2027 budget recommendations. Several council members suggested staff draft a resolution for council consideration in August; the board requested that commitment timeline to meet donor and grant deadlines.

Funding and contingencies: Presenters said the capital campaign has raised more than $200,000 so far and that potential partners include the Greater Watertown Health Foundation and local donors; the boards fundraising consultant expressed confidence in the campaigns $1 million target. Staff noted inflation risks and that the board would control donated funds; the council discussed options for structuring a matching or capped contribution. No formal resolution was voted on July 15; staff were asked to prepare a draft resolution for a future meeting and to circulate fuller floor plans and budget breakdowns.

What to watch: The council indicated it may place a resolution on the August agenda. If the council adopts a resolution committing a borrowing amount, the project will be added to the 2027 CIP process and to the citys budget for formal approval later in the year.