Ericksen asks Council for support

We just need to move forward. We need this support to be able to generate other support.”

Library Board member James Ericksen

Members of the D.R. Moon Memorial Library Board attended the first City Council meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 2 to share the Library Director’s report and to provide the Council with a building update concerning the proposed future Library addition and remodel. Library Director Elizabeth Miniatt explained that three major prospective gift donors have informed the library that the D.R. Moon Memorial Library’s building project aligns with their goals, and they would like to support it, but they want to see commitment from the City of Stanley before they pledge their own support. She mentioned that the Library Board knows that the Council has always been interested in the library and supportive of its efforts to bring value to the community.
Library Board member James Ericksen stated, “We’ve always felt that the Council has supported it. We do appreciate what the City has done. We’re at a point now where we really do need an addition. We’ve got a board that I think you guys can rely on. We definitely have a director you can rely on. We just need to move forward. We need this support to be able to generate other support.”
Miniatt asked the Council what can be pursued to show the support of the City for the addition to the D.R. Moon Memorial Library.
Alderperson Jacob Huff questioned, “So what do they mean by support? Are they talking financially? Are they going to match funds or something like that?”
“No,” Miniatt answered and explained that a specific amount wasn’t named. She added that the gift donors aren’t necessarily looking for large monetary support but even for the City to apply for grants on behalf of the library to indicate their support of the building project. “I told them the City of Stanley doesn’t have the funds to give us and we understand that.”
“How much have you got pledged?” Henke questioned to which Miniatt responded, “$250,000.”
Miniatt asked if it would be an option for the City to apply for the Community Development Block Grant for the Library through the public facilities aspect of the grant.
Ericksen asked, “Mike and Jacob, from the past I always remember that didn’t we have like a gentlemen’s agreement that the library would be kind of in line here for the block grant when it fell into place. I understand you have a lot of things going on in the city but one of them is the Library and I know from previous councils that it was always kind of a gentleman’s agreement that we would be in line for it.”
“When are you planning on starting construction?” Mayor Al Haas asked.
“Give us the money and we’ll start digging tomorrow,” Erickson quickly responded.
“It will be 2026 before that grant is even available,” Haas told them regarding the Community Development Block Grant. “So, I think we need to look for some different options.”
“We understand that,” Erickson said.
Miniatt brought up an option involving the Flexible Facilities Program from the State of Wisconsin that provides grants “to units of general local government and tribal governments for purposes of enabling work, education, and healthcare monitoring, including in remote options, in public libraries and community centers to address the needs of residents living in communities disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.” Under minimum criteria, it states that “the project must include constructing a new community facility, or renovating or expanding an existing community facility and purchase and installation of broadband infrastructure and other digital connectivity technology that provides access to high speed internet and enables work, health and education monitoring.”
“It’s for public libraries. The City would have to apply for the Library,” Miniatt said adding that this would be an alternative option. “It’s for new construction and renovation or expansion.”
Fitzsimmons asked if the City applied for that program for the Library, would the aforementioned donors need the grant to be approved before they would view it as support from the City and make their donations.
Miniatt said that she thinks that it would be enough to be seen as support from the City if the City Council would pledge that they would apply for the Community Development Block Grant on behalf of the library if the library didn’t get the funds from the Flexibilities Facilities Program.
“I would just make sure that that’s how they would see it as well or if it has to be an actual approved process before they would commit to it,” Fitzsimmons said.
“At this point I think this is our best option,” Haas stated as the Council discussed application requirements for the Flexible Facilities Program with the Library Board and suggested looking into further into the application process.
“We do appreciate your support,” Erickson told the Council as Haas thanked the Library Board for attending the meeting.

In other news

City Clerk Nicole Pilgrim has officially been appointed to the Administrator-Clerk/Treasurer position to the City of Stanley.

Amanda Samplawski was approved by the Council to be hired to the Stanley Fire Department and EMS.