Cadott Village Board - It’s too good a chance not to try for free money

Cadott Library Board president Cookie Kaste (left), resident Becca Blanchette (center) and Cadott School District administrator Josh Spaeth (right), spoke about at the Cadott Village Board meeting May 20, about where the new library should be located. In order to apply for a $4.2 grant, which would fully fund the project, an agreement had to be reached. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

This spring, the Cadott Village Board and Library Board were made aware of a $4.2 million Flexible Spending Grant, that could be applied for, to fund a new community library. When the Library Board approached the village board about going ahead with applying for the grant, based on the architectural plan already in place for the Mill Street location, it was requested they look into other options.

Many have expressed concerns over the Mill Street site, as they feel crossing State Hwy. 27 on foot could be hazardous, as well as the high amount of traffic in that area. The Library Board agreed to beat the bushes for other options, but came back empty May 20, in their report to the village board.

Village president Randy Kuehni asked if the $4 million grant can be used to purchase and remodel an existing building, with the answer yes, but resident/ Library Board member Pat Lenard thought it would be a waste, to already have the design and engineering in place, for the Mill Street site.

“We could use all that money to make a very nice library,” she said.

The Library Board exhausted other property options that could be purchased and renovated, so it was back to the Mill Street site, much to the chagrin of the village board, who have voiced multiple concerns over the safety of the location.

“I just feel, that being that close to the school, it gives us a lot of opportunities,” said Library Board president Cookie Kaste.

Resident Becca Blanchette feels that if the location of the two schools and parks is unsafe, that needs to be addressed, leaving the library out of it.

“I believe it would be a really big mistake and a disservice to our village…if the board were to pacify this,” said Blanchette. “This grant – it’s clear that we need it. There are issues that can no longer be ignored.”

Gary Rykal, resident, pointed out that traffic studies were done when they built the elementary school, so tunnels were installed to provide a safe way across the highway.

“Everybody drives to get to where they want to go,” added resident Donna Rykal, asking how many accidents there have been in that location.

Village board trustee and former police chief Louie Eslinger, said there were some accidents at that location when he was with the police department, but that he did not have the data of how many occurred, at-hand. “I don’t think any of us here are anti-library, it’s just the location,” said Eslinger.

“I think your traffic numbers have changed a lot since a traffic study was done on 27,” said resident Jean Rygiel.

Lenard shared that the DOT said they would work with the village to install flashing signs, indicating a crossing.

Cadott School District administrator Josh Spaeth was also present at the meeting, saying he and the school district, are committed to making sure kids and the community have options, as a library is greatly needed. Spaeth said the elementary school could make sure that walkers don’t leave the school until the buses and cars have left from pick-up at the end of the school day, which takes about seven minutes, from start to finish.

Kaste says a library at Mill Street would be used for civic and school functions, like Scouting, book clubs and tutoring spaces, while providing a spot for middle and high school students to do homework. She also feels that it would draw more people in, when they stop to use the restrooms and free WiFi, with sporting equipment the library received from a grant used more readily.

“There are benefits of it being close to the school,” said Spaeth.

Public works director Jeremy Kenealy questioned the possibility of installing a sidewalk along the fence for walkers, after coming out of the tunnel. Spaeth said the school would work with the village on that, but village trustee Eric Weiland did not like the idea that anyone from the public can just walk through the elementary playground, so he definitely wants to look at maybe a fenced-in sidewalk.

Although most of the village trustees are not in favor of the Mill Street location, they agreed to go ahead and apply for the grant, with a single audit fee estimate of $15,000, and between $7,000 and $8,000 to write the grant, paid for by the Library Board. It was decided to apply for the one-build option, not a purchase and renovate option.

“You’re going to get one ask for this money and that’s it, and it needs to be accurate,” said Lynn McIntyre, Cedar Corp.

They’re also on a tight deadline, as construction has to begin by July of 2025.

“If it don’t go through, we’ll be back at this again,” said Kuehni.