Library construction begins

WASILLA — Construction on the future site of the Wasilla Public Library began in earnest Monday, slightly less than two weeks after a groundbreaking ceremony drew more than 100 attendees.

The new facility will triple the available space for books, enhance the technology available for library patrons, and will increase parking by nearly six times.

The new library project has been in the works since a 2006 needs assessment found library space was inadequate to meet the needs of the city’s expanding population. City officials had sought to use the Meta Rose building along Yenlo Street as a replacement. However, officials eventually discovered the cost of converting the building into a library (estimated at $3 million in 2010) was prohibitive.

Unlike numerous public works and education projects throughout the Mat-Su, the city has elected to save up sales tax dollars in advance of construction, rather than issue bonds to be repaid after the fact.

Funding for the library’s estimated $15-million cost presently stands at more than $8.6 million, with the vast majority of the funds coming from a 1-cent hike in the city sales tax put in place to fund library construction. The Rasmuson Foundation, Friends of the Wasilla Library, and the Foraker Group also have contributed grant money to the library’s construction. And the Mat-Su Borough contributed the land.

Officials anticipate the sales tax increase could be retired at the end of this year, according to Public Works director Archie Giddings.

Officials have broken construction into stages, meaning that while construction for one phase is underway, officials can continue working to secure funding, rather than waiting for all the money to be saved at once.

“This is a 100-year building,” Giddings said. “It’s super insulated. It’s exciting.”

Cornerstone General Contractor was selected to build the project.