Library board declines $500,000 grant, may pursue purchase of former daycare building

At the Nov. 18 Spring Grove City Council meeting, Library Board Member Karen Folstad told the council the board plans to contact Eitzen State Bank to make an offer on the former daycare center building and that the board voted to decline a $500,000 Community Project Funding award.

Folstad said the grant required a shovel-ready project and a strict timeline that the library could not meet because the land purchase has not occurred and a new building could not be completed by the grant’s December 2026 deadline. She told the council the library voted to decline the funding rather than risk losing the award later for not meeting the grant’s timeline.

Folstad said the library would like to see a daycare continue to operate in the front portion of the building if the library purchases it, but that the library does not want to be responsible for leases or collecting rent. She asked that, if donors provide funds to support the daycare portion and the library ultimately does not retain those funds for daycare purposes, those donated funds be returned to the library fund.

Clerk Jana Elton said the requests will require further review by city staff and that no decisions were made that night. Folstad also said the library will provide information to Elton so staff can draft resolutions to appoint two upcoming library board vacancies at next month’s council meeting.

The council took no action on purchasing the building at the Nov. 18 meeting and will await additional information.