Ben Rice and Barbara Beck discuss items of the proposed 2019 library budget.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Community Public Library Board of Trustees perused the facility’s upcoming 2019 budget at its regular meeting Monday night, Sept. 10. The board will vote on approval at an adoption meeting Oct. 15.

Director Ann Zydek proposed to the board that money be moved from the operating budget to the Rainy Day fund in order to help finance several upkeep-related projects that she and Facilities Manager Bruce Hively see looming on the horizon.

“That will allow us to start looking and deciding which of these packages we want to work on and see what we can accomplish,” said Zydek. “So, we’re looking at LED lighting, upgrading electronics, new roof shingles — we’re going to have to start saving for that.”

Zydek also mentioned the possibility of adding solar panels when and if roof repair was done and added that the parking lot has been a topic of conversation in terms of impending repair projects.

The proposed budget stands at a general fund of $3,230,482 with a budget estimate of $230,000 for the Rainy Day Fund, totaling $3,460,482.

The library’s most talked about expense in recent months — the replacement of its failing Limited Use, Limited Access elevator, is getting closer to fruition, according to Zydek.

“This Friday, the architect says he’s going to have the designs ready to send down to state,” Zydek said. “And, at the same time he will then send them to potential contractors and we’ll try to have that timed in so that they will be opened at the next board meeting Oct. 15.”

The library’s LULA elevator began failing frequently over the past year and is now closed for use. SRKM Architecture was hired to create designs for a new elevator and estimates for the installation have been approximately $150,000.