Opponents of new library speak out at public meeting

If the two public meetings held Wednesday by supporters of a proposed new Grand Forks library are any indication, there's going to be a rollicking debate from now until a ballot measure on the issue scheduled in April.

Opponents of the library dominated the conversation, some comparing a new library to the city-owned Alerus Center, which they dislike because of its price tag, its financial losses and it having failed at the ballot box several times before winning support.

Why doesn't the city just put a library in the Alerus Center? Schurke Swanke asked facetiously.

A woman who wouldn't give her name because she said individual opinions don't matter attended both meetings and said it seemed library supporters have already made up their minds about building a library.

That's why there are public meetings being held, said Kristi Mishler, executive director of the Community Foundation, which is sponsoring the meetings, along with questionnaires and a survey.

Also, voters would still have to decide whether to increase the sales tax by ½-percent over 5½ years to pay for the $18.8 million building.

A little more than a dozen people, not including news media and library officials, showed up for both meetings, one at the Senior Center and one at the library.

Those in the audience who sympathized with library supporters said little, though one, Terry Livinggood blurted out: "What city that you go to that's as beautiful as this one doesn't have a library?"

The current library building is not befitting of Grand Forks, he said, and it's in such a cramped location the city bus doesn't come close to it.

Aside from the general complaints about government spending -- the Alerus Center, the Park District's future wellness center and the School District's various building expansions were all mentioned -- many at the meeting were concerned with location.

Some, such as the unnamed woman said the library ought to just expand its computer labs at various schools, or open branches to better serve the whole community, rather than just one location.

Library Director Wendy Wendt and library board Chairwoman Susan Mickelson said they don't control the school board and opening new branches would increase staff costs because of duplication.

Aida Wakefield said she fears library officials are prejudiced against a north-end location, preferring the wellness center location. She's a psychotherapist whose clients include many seniors and those on disability, and she said not everyone has the luxury of a car. The north end, she said, is where a lot of poorer folks are.

The library board has narrowed potential sites down to three. The old Leevers supermarket just south of DeMers Avenue is the farthest north. The wellness center near 40th Avenue South is the farthest south. The farmland near the old Rex electronics store on 32nd Avenue South is also in the south end, but its $1.9 million price tag makes it seem infeasible to library officials.