By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews
YACHATS — On the surface, it may look as though not much is happening with the re-build of the Yachats Library. The old structure still stands on West Seventh Street; the temporary library is still open in the Commons building, with no exit date in sight.
But key players in the years-old drive to give the city an updated library have been pushing ahead to finish plans and budgets. The goal — to possibly start swinging wrecking balls and hammers over the winter.
“Possibly” is the operative term, as the mix of volunteers, architects, contractors and others work toward a new, 3,600-square-foot library on the old site.
“We’re on the verge of submitting architect’s plans for permits” from Lincoln County, Library Commission chair David Rivinus said last week. “Then we’ll get what’s called a bid set, or final estimate, from the contractor” King West of Salem.
Rivinus said if the bid is over the $1.5 million budgeted for the project, “we’ll have to change the design so we can pay for it.”
Rivinus said that should put to rest the baseless rumor that has been circulating around town — that the contractor’s final estimate is already in, and came in at twice the budget, or $3 million.
Final cost by mid-October?
To arrive at the actual bid, King West has to gather final estimates from all its sub-contractors, such as plumbers and electricians. And once agreed upon, that final cost can’t go up by more than 10 percent.
Target dates are “all conjecture to a large extent,” said Rivinus, but he hopes to have the bids by mid-October. After that, weather may play a role in when the old building is knocked down and construction begins. At one time, the city had hoped the building could be demolished in July.
Even before county permits are secured, demolition can move forward. And also pre-permit, foundation work can be done up to the point of placing rebar to support concrete.
“The question is, is it safer to leave the old building as is? Or to demolish it, and leave open trenches with rebar sticking out?” Rivinus said. “That might expose us to liability if someone was injured.”
“If it looks like a rainy winter season, we may start in the spring,” Rivinus said. Still, “Construction techniques have become more sophisticated, so it’s possible even in the rainy season to get a shell up” for the new building.
Rivinus reiterated a sentiment he has voiced for months: “Anyone who’s ever built or renovated a structure knows that things happen and schedules can go awry, but we’re hopeful for smooth progress.”
Business goes on in Commons
In the meantime, library volunteers and part-time administrator Traci Altson continue to staff the temporary quarters in Room 8 of the Commons. Entry is on the north side of the building next to the large blue book return box. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Last spring, the most popular books and newest titles, children’s titles and some periodicals, along with two public access computers, were moved to Room 8. That space is less than half the size of the original library. The rest of the collection was warehoused in Waldport.
Contrary to another rumor, Rivinus also said library staff and materials are not moving back into the old building.
New books continue to be ordered every month, and patrons can scan the available collection, and put a hold on titles, at this website.
- Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to YachatsNews.com. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com
