Community Learning Center Could be Open by Summer

The Community Learning Center, the result of a remodeling project at the Greendale Library, could be completed by mid-summer now that the Village has chosen a construction company to complete the work.

The Village Board on Tuesday awarded JH Hassinger, Inc. the project after the construction company came in with the lowest bid of $97,900.

The total cost of the project, however, is expected to be closer to $150,000. New, modular furniture is estimated to cost $32,000 and a voice and data wiring upgrade will be about $6,500.

“We’ve been working on this for more than a year,” Village Manager Todd Michaels said. “We’re to the point were the shovel is going to hit the ground. We’re really happy construction could start soon and could be done this summer.”

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The $97,900 price tag includes the construction a new library director’s office, park and recreation department office area, new front counters and a new interior floor connection between the Health Department and library area.

“It’s going to bring together the park and rec with the library; there are things they do well together that can be augmented by putting them in the same building,” Michaels said. “Especially as libraries turn more toward learning and information and not just about books.”

In addition, there is a built-in contingency of an additional $50,000.

The library board, school district and village have agreed to split the cost of the project three ways, or $50,000 per government body. Michaels said the three entities first started talking about the project in June 2011. He said the Library Board already approved the bid and the School District will do so soon.

JH Hassinger is the same firm the Village used to remodel the Public Works facility in 2012.