Board should avoid hiring this firm

The recent decision of the Cook Library Board led by Aaron Lawlor and Karen Broms, both from Vernon Hills, in apparently selecting a library architect could not have been more counterproductive.

Of the five firms interviewed, Engberg Anderson of Milwaukee was reported to have been selected to provide design services for Cook's $12 million dollar plan to build a new library in Vernon Hills and expand the Cook facility in Libertyville.

This is the same old architectural firm preferred by former Head Librarian Fred Byergo and his staff. This is the same firm to whom the district has paid over one million dollars for plans for the referendums and other projects that were never built.

Have Aaron Lawlor and Karen Broms forgotten about the embarrassing Engberg Anderson miscue on cost estimating of a new ceiling and lighting in the Cook Library?

After being hired and paid $12,000 to design a new ceiling and lighting, and then informing the Cook Board in 2004 the project would cost $130,000, the Cook Board was shocked and stunned when three bids were received ranging from $288,200 to $318,800.

Those bids were a long way from Engberg's estimate of $130,000.

The end result was five on the board did not want to proceed and Engberg was again paid $12,000 for work never built. Engberg was paid in full, buying more wallpaper, paper plans never built.

It is unimaginable that the board would again consider Engberg Anderson from Milwaukee.

Now what to do?

Everyone should realize to build and renovate the Cook plans with $12 million dollars will be very difficult. There simply is not enough money for their grand plans.

A couple of the architectural firms interviewed by the Cook board are capable of "design build." If the board takes the time to study this and those architects' proposals, they will learn that design build is the way more and more public projects are built. Design-build will save money, 10-15 percent by most estimates, and allow the project to be built and completed more quickly.

The Cook library board has been informed by Cook Library patrons not to come running for more of our tax dollars when they run out of money because of Engberg's extravagant billing and erroneous estimating.

For more detailed information on the happenings at Cook Library, go to www.cooklibrarypatrons.blogspot.com.

Jack L. Martin

Past Cook Library

Vice President

Libertyville