Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
U town Lib Project
Demolition work commences on the Uniontown library.
With big concrete slabs in a pile on the street last Monday, the Uniontown Library expansion project got underway.
“Amen,” said project coordinator Leslee Miller. “It’s been a lot of work.”
Mangum Construction of Clarkston began Sept. 28, cutting out the old concrete floor of the former fire station garage which will be the main room of the new library.
The floor was replaced to remove the previous sloped surface for drainage.
The library project got underway with an adjustment to the original plan, in order to save money.
To reduce the bid by $800, the library decided to leave out its planned cabinet sink area for kids’ crafts. Instead, Mangum will rough in plumbing and electrical in the room for later completion.
Also expected to bring down costs are a couple of key donations. Atlas Concrete of Lewiston donated the concrete and Joe Weber Concrete of Lewiston-Clarkston donated time and materials for the texture and surface of the new floor.
Taking out the old, sloped concrete added $1,640 to the library project, which will include new handicapped-accessible bathrooms and five times the previous library’s floor area.
After the slabs were cut and piled on Main Street out front of the old fire hall, a Roach Construction truck from Genesee hauled the pieces to a fill site near the Uniontown sewer ponds.
“It was a challenge and I hope it’s the last challenge on this project,” said Miller.
The total estimate for the new library space is $72,000, made up of $30,000 in Whitman County .09 economic development funds, $17,000 from Inland Northwest Community Foundation, $2,000 from Northwest Farm Credit Services and other contributions from businesses and individuals.
After a delay earlier this year in securing funding, library organizers received an extension on the .09 grant, which comes with a requirement to be used within the calendar year it is awarded.
As the project moved from hope to plans to eventual reality, Miller has been close to it much of the way.
Aside from once working in the library, she served as Uniontown city clerk ― in the same building ― from 1991 to 2000 and served on the Whitman County Library board for 10 years.
“We’re just really glad it’s finally going to happen,” said Miller. “We’ve been talking about moving into the fire garage for 20 years.”
Most of the remaining work is now on the interior, expected to be finished sometime before the end of the year. Volunteers will do the painting.
“The work won’t impact the business of the town hall, to speak of,” Miller said.
The existing library, which will remain open throughout construction, will become the new city clerk’s office. The Uniontown police will move into the clerk’s old office and the former police room will be used for storage.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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