Benton City Building Committee
August 10, 2005
Keewaydin Park Branch
Commissioner Max Benitz called the meeting to order at 9:04 AM.
In attendance were:
ALSC Architects – Steve Mallory arrived shortly after the meeting began.
Commissioner Benitz asked if there were any additions to the agenda, then added Legislative Packet for Benton City Library Phase II as Agenda Item #VI.
Skipped to Agenda Item #4 – Treasurer’s Report: Kathleen Corboy-Rigby reviewed the Benton County Treasurer Financial Statements for July. Total tax collections for the month of July were $247.60 and total expenditures were $45,095.01. As directed by the Building Committee at July’s monthly meeting, Ms. Corboy-Rigby transferred $350,000 to the Municipal Investors Account (MIA) where it is earning approximately 3.25% interest rate. The interest earned will be added to the amount budgeted for the building project.
Agenda Item #5 – Payment of Bills: Leoné Michalec reported that there are two invoices for Joe Chapin to sign. She also reviewed the Revenues and Expenditures Report for July. Budgeted revenues haven’t changed. The projected increase in interest from the $350,000 investment was not included since the report was just received today. It was agreed that in the future Ms. Corboy-Rigby would fax Ms. Michalec the Treasurer’s monthly report by the 5th of each month so all revenue changes could be included. Total expenditures through July 31, 2005 are $63,037.23, backup documentation on page two of the report.
Returned to Agenda Item # 2 – Update and Overview: Steve Mallory reported that he was just at the building site this morning. They will start pouring the footings tomorrow. Grant Construction will be back on schedule by the middle of next week. All the work between the engineers, the contractor, and the sub-contractors is going very well.
Donations to be received were discussed next. Mr. Mallory reported that the window upgrade would be paid for with the money the Lorz’s Foundation is donating. The donation from the Benton City Lionesses would help pay for the casework in the workroom.
Danielle Krol asked the group what they thought of using the money donated by the Estate of Daisy Craddock for hiring additional staff for the Benton City Library so the new library could have more open hours. Mid-Columbia Library System doesn’t have the additional funds to hire more staff.
Virginia McKenna said that Craddock’s money should go into the building project. Margo Seal commented that the community really wants more library open hours. Commissioner Benitz suggested that the group decide on the use of the Daisy Craddock funds later in the project.
Mr. Mallory said he needs to have a firm handle on all the donations so he can make sure the items being put back into the project can be paid for. The casework needs to be ordered in two weeks.
Commissioner Benitz asked who is keeping a list of all the donations. Mrs. McKenna said she has the list and to date it includes:
$ 9,800.00 - Benton PUD
$35,910.00 - City of Benton City
$10,000.00 - Lorz Foundation
$ 1,352.33 - Benton City Lionesses
$ 5,000.00 - Estate of Daisy Craddock
$ 6,123.94 - City of Benton City for building permits
$68,186.27 TOTAL
Mrs. McKenna said she has tried to contact Kamela at ALSC Architects to get the cost of carpeting the area that is to be stained because there is an interest in donating the cost of the carpet. Mr. Mallory said he would be talking with Kamela today.
Mr. Mallory reported that Bill McKenna is working on reducing the scale of the sign work and base, and relocating the sign to a more visible location.
Question was raised regarding A & B Asphalt donating any work. A & B Asphalt has been hired as a sub-contractor and there is a list available of the work they are to complete. It was suggested that Ms. Krol, after receiving input from Mr. Mallory, Harold Hayes, and Mrs. McKenna, meet with the owner of A & B Asphalt to see what items on the list he would be willing to donate.
Ms. Krol asked if anyone in the group knew of someone willing to remove the trees on the work site as a donation. Mrs. McKenna suggested Ms. Krol contact Howard Madsen. She’ll get Ms. Krol his phone number.
Mr. Mallory reported that the groundwork and the soil testing are complete. This is where there could have been a lot of unknowns that would have had to been paid for out of the amount set aside in the budget for contingency. As it is, the contingency balance is still in very good shape.
Commissioner Benitz asked if the project was still on schedule for a December 12th occupancy permit. Mr. Mallory answered “yes”.
Agenda Item #6 –
Legislative Packet for Benton City Library Phase II: Commissioner Benitz asked Mr. Hayes to review the list of
Phase II items that were the result of Phase II Brainstorming. The items that received four and three votes
were recommended to be included in the request to the legislators. These items included: increasing the building’s size by up to
8,000 square feet, adding a computer lab, enlarging the children’s area into
the existing program room, adding a new program room, and carpeting the whole
facility.
Commissioner Benitz reminded the group about the importance of putting together a legislative packet to give to Senator Jerome Delvin and Representatives Shirley Hankins and Larry Haler. The packet needs to include the future needs of the Benton City Library with justifications, an architectural rendition and estimated cost of the addition, and letters of support from the various entities and citizen groups.
The Building Committee needs to meet with the legislators regarding the Benton City Library Phase II either in September or October, but no later than October, for the request to be included in the State’s 2006 Budget. The packet for Phase II needs to be ready to give the legislators when they meet with the Building Committee so they have something to take with them to Olympia.
It was decided to invite the legislators to attend the regularly scheduled meeting of the Building Committee on October 12, 2005. Ms. Krol will work with the architect, staff, and the Lorz’s Foundation to put together the packet for the Senator and Representatives. Ms. Krol wants the packet to be ready for Commissioner Benitz to review by the end of September.
Returned to Agenda Item #3 – Road Construction & Voltage Regulators: Since Mr. Chapin wasn’t present Mr. Mallory reported that according to his latest information moving the transformer is still two months out. However, this timeframe is not a problem for the contractor. The furthest the transformer can be moved is approximately 220 feet.
Mrs. McKenna reported that some time ago the Lorz’s Foundation had starting fund raising with a company in Portland for the Benton City Library expansion but the fund raising was interrupted until the Lorz’s Foundation received its 501c3 status. That being accomplished, they are ready to start their fund raising again.
Agenda Item #7 – Next Meeting: September 14, 2005, Keewaydin Park Branch Meeting Room, 9:00 AM.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM.
Meeting minutes prepared by: Leoné Michalec
September 14, 2005 9 AM, Meeting Room, Keewaydin Park Branch
October 12, 2005 9 AM, Meeting Room, Keewaydin Park Branch
November 9, 2005 9 AM, Meeting Room, Keewaydin Park Branch
December 14, 2005 9 AM, Meeting Room, Keewaydin Park Branch