Contractor selected for Wasilla library

WASILLA — The Wasilla Library Building Committee is in need of a few good shovels.

The design phase of the building is completed, and Cornerstone Contractors with a low but of $11.5 million was selected to build the new Wasilla library, public works director Archie Giddings told the committee Wednesday afternoon.

Combine with architect fees, Giddings said the project is within its $15-million budget. The city council is set to meet at 6 p.m., March 4 for 10 minutes specifically to approve the bid, Giddings said.

“They’re the low bid and they had all the documents in the bid document,” he said. “We’re calling a special meeting next Wednesday just to do that award.”

Discussion about the library is now in the phase where committee members are deciding where to place which decorative art pieces, and what color the walls will be (mostly neutral colors, Wende Wilbur told an audience member concerned about “boring” colors).

A concrete date has not yet been set for the opening ceremony, although officials have previously estimated May or June as the possible timeine.

Thus the shovels. Audience member Julie Ede offered to provide at least one herself, though mayor Bert Cottle said he could buy them, if needed.

The only substantive vote taken Wednesday was to choose one of two options for exterior tile. The committee voted unanimously for the more costly, more durable option, in part because the contractor bid was lower than expected, council members said.

“We’ve come this far,” said committee member Ralph Baldwin. “Let’s not mess it up at the end by going with something that’s going to fall apart.”

The library’s interior and exterior tone have been set, and the facility is about two-thirds funded between the accumulated $9 million from sales tax, grants from the Rasmuson Foundation, according to Giddings. The committee is still seeking potential grant opportunities, and the Friends of the Library are planning to launch a capital campaign to solicit donations for the $680,000 not covered by a sales tax boost, according to board member Jeanne Trosynski and the Friends website. Alaskans can contribute their Permanent Fund Dividends via the Pick. Click. Give. mechanism.

Officials anticipate at construction on the library will likely last until 2016. The new library is being constructed to provide additional floor space and parking to replace the current cramped library quarters. The new library will be located at the intersection of Swanson Avenue and Crusey Street, near the Wasilla Middle School.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.