Cook Memorial board to consider changing parking lot in Libertyville

Cook Memorial Public Library District officials on Wednesday said they’ll consider a request from Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler to change the configuration of the Libertyville library’s parking lot.

There are two caveats.

First, the village must pay for whatever design and construction work is needed — something Weppler and the village board already have offered. The work could cost $12,000, according to village estimates.

And second, the changes must assuage the library board’s concerns about patron safety in the parking lot.

“Safety is probably the biggest concern at this point,” library board member Karen Broms said.

Weppler has been pressing for several months for changes to the parking lot at the library, which recently reopened after a $7 million renovation and expansion. The traffic pattern there — cars enter from Brainerd Avenue and exit onto Church Street — will interfere with summertime street fairs such as Libertyville Days, Weppler and other village officials have said.

Weppler has proposed widening the Brainerd access point to allow cars to enter and exit there.

He’s also requested the board consider eliminating the Church Street exit, either temporarily during summer events or permanently.

The current pattern was approved by the village board long before Weppler raised the concern.

It was a compromise made with the village after Libertyville leaders rejected the layout the library’s architect had proposed.

Cook Memorial officials mentioned the potential conflict before the village gave a green light to the plan, Broms said. Weppler didn’t voice concerns about the design until after the work was done last year, library officials have said.

“It’s unfortunate that the parking lot was essentially constructed before Mayor Weppler came back to the library board and asked us to change it,” Broms said.

Regardless, Broms said she and the rest of the board will consider Weppler’s request. But she said changing the flow — temporarily or permanently — raises “significant” public-safety issues.

As a result, the library staff will study traffic flow in the parking lot to see if changes can be made without affecting patron safety, library Director Stephen Kershner said.

Kershner is particularly concerned about a drive-through pickup window that’s set to open Feb. 14.

“We have to see how people are using that,” he said. “I think we’ll have a lot of live data to share.”

The Cook Memorial board discussed the issue Tuesday night. Weppler attended the meeting and pleaded his case to the panel, which likely will debate the matter again next month.

Kershner described the discussion as “very respectful.”

“It was a very positive exchange,” he said. “Everybody is looking for a win-win (scenario).”

Library Trustee Tom Milowski said he’s willing to help determine what’s best for the village and the events that use Church Street, but he also said he wants to ensure officials are fiscally responsible.

Weppler could not be reached for comment Wednesday.