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Sterling OKs $8,250 contract for library accessibility study after elevator fails repeatedly

Board of Commissioners of the City of Sterling · February 16, 2026
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Summary

The City approved an $8,250 Preliminary Architectural Report with BG Consultants to study accessibility options at the Sterling Free Public Library after months of elevator unreliability; the Library Board will contribute $3,500, leaving a net city cost of $4,750.

The Sterling City Commission voted unanimously Feb. 16 to hire BG Consultants to prepare a Preliminary Architectural Report (PAR) assessing accessibility improvements for the Sterling Free Public Library, an original 1917 Carnegie building on the National Register of Historic Places.

City Manager Ian Hutcheson and Grant Urban, project architect with BG Consultants (participating by videoconference), told commissioners the library's elevator has operated inconsistently for several months and is considered unreliable. Several maintenance firms and public-works staff inspected the unit; initial estimates to replace the control panel and wiring were about $50,000, but contractors warned that electrical work might not fix the underlying problems. A full elevator replacement could cost up to about $200,000. Hutcheson said the PAR will analyze feasible alternatives'including a new elevator, a lift, or a ramp'and provide cost estimates and documentation needed for grant applications.

BG's scope calls for a lump-sum PAR fee of $8,250, deliverable within 90 days. The Library Board agreed to contribute $3,500 from South Central Kansas Library System funds, making the city's net cost $4,750. The city attorney reviewed the contract and had no objections. Commissioners approved the agreement 5-0.

The PAR will enable the city to weigh less-costly alternatives and to apply for grants targeted at historic buildings and accessibility improvements. The library building is city-owned and the city is responsible for executing any resulting construction contracts.

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