New library ‘long overdue’

WASILLA — It may not have begun “once upon a time,” but the Friends of Wasilla Public Library are celebrating their own happily every after following voter approval for funding to build a new 23,500-square-foot library.

Some associated with the nonprofit library support organization have worked on the project for 20 years or more, so securing a new facility seems a little surreal, said Jeanne Troshynski, president of Friends of Wasilla Public Library.

“Woo hoo!” she exclaimed after Friday’s announcement a 1 percent sales tax increase had passed to build the new library. “I was definitely very nervous, because it could’ve gone either way. We couldn’t sleep for a couple of days.”

That’s because after all the ballots cast in Tuesday’s general election were counted, approval for the library tax held a precarious 35-vote lead with 178 early, absentee and questioned ballots that were counted Friday. Following Friday’s count, the library had passed with more than 53 percent of the vote, 528 to 460.

After working so long to get a new library, the group’s focus now will be lobbying the state Legislature to approve a grant request for matching funds to build the facility, Troshynski said. If the state kicks in the $8.2 million the city will ask for, that 1 percent sales tax will only have to raise about $6.2 million of the $15 million price tag. Either way, the tax will sunset after funding for the library is secure or after three years, whichever comes first.

The excitement over the new library is palpable, Troshynski said.

“I know it’s going to be amazing and the library staff is just ecstatic,” she said. “The location (at the intersection of Crusey Street and Swanson Avenue) is outstanding and in the end, everything is working out perfectly awesome.”

Along with nearly tripling the available space, the new library will be able to hold about 95,000 items for patrons, nearly double the 55,000 it currently has, Troshynski said. Also, technology will be a big component. The current library has seven computers to share among the 90,000-some visitors it has annually, while plans call for the new library to have more than 40 computers, including a host of laptops that can be used anywhere in the building.

In the end, Troshynski said she couldn’t have written a better ending to this chapter for the Wasilla library. “The big joke with libraries is it’s long overdue — ha ha — but we really are living happily ever after.”

New faces

Friday’s count of early and absentee votes also made for a close shave for David Wilson, who won the race for Seat A on the council by 13 votes over Glenda Ledford, 307 to 294. After polls closed Tuesday, Wilson held a 42-vote lead over Ledford, who made a strong comeback Friday garnering 61 of the early/absentee vote to Wilson’s 32. But the comeback fell just shy. For those wondering, a close vote in a Wasilla City Council race does not trigger an automatic recount. City code says that only happens in the case of a mayoral election.

Results for two other seats on the council could not have been changed by the early and absentee ballots. For Seat E, Gretchen O’Barr was ran unopposed and got 706 votes. For Seat F, incumbent Brandon Wall actually increased his lead over challenger Vic Kohring, with more than 68 percent of the vote — a finally tally of 666 to Kohring’s 306.

All results are considered unofficial until the city council certifies the election, which is scheduled for Monday at a special meeting at city hall at 12:30 p.m.

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2269 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.