Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Uniontown Lib Relo
From left to right, Leslee Miller, Uniontown library expansion project coordinator; Nichole Jordan, Uniontown librarian, and Northwest Farm Credit Services officials Josh Huff, Doug Robison and Sam Lavigne.
The effort to expand the Uniontown Library got another boost in January with a $2,000 donation from Northwest Farm Credit Services.
The total puts the Whitman County Library within $5,000 of its goal to triple the library’s space by moving it into the city hall’s fire truck garage. The original 10 X 14-foot library space was also at city hall.
The library has been in its existing space since 1946.
At the end of December, the Inland Northwest Community Foundation awarded a $17,000 grant to the project.
Organizers now hope to send it out for bid by the end of this month.
“That’s what we’re shooting for,” said Leslee Miller, project manager.
Other contributions include about $3,000 from residents, along with money raised with a book sale and a raffle. A spaghetti feed will be at the New Sage Bakery Feb. 22.
The library project will add handicapped-accessible bathrooms, more chairs and a kids’ area, include a sink to use for craft projects, and add two more computers for public use.
Planned construction would include closing off the existing garage door and installing new windows. The project would also feature plumbing, framing, insulation, wiring and floor covering. The main city hall door would remain as the entrance to the new library.
In the end, Miller indicated the change will allow many more programs to come to Uniontown.
“It was appalling what Uniontown was not getting because of the size limitations of the library,” she said.
Architect Craig Beaumont of Palouse Design Associates estimates the project will cost $60,000.
“If the bids come in where we need them to be, we would get the contractor on it right away,” said Miller.
The library’s existing shelving and desks will be moved into the new space.
Members of the city council have volunteered to help with demolition and painting.
As an added bonus, the closing off of the fire garage will also allow for two more parking spaces out front.
After the new library area opens, the original space will be used by the Uniontown police which will move from a small office to be converted to storage.
“So it’ll be musical offices,” Miller said.
Right now the garage space houses a rescue unit vehicle for Whitman Fire District No. 14.
Plans have not been finalized for where they will store it next.
“We’re out of space right now,” said Linda Becker, secretary for Fire District No. 14. “There’s no station space to put it in.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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