Vernon Hills board to review library proposal

Cook Memorial Public Library District leaders don't expect the latest plans for a new library in Vernon Hills will meet the same kind of resistance similar schematics received in neighboring Libertyville earlier this year.

In fact, library board President Aaron Lawlor anticipates continued support from Vernon Hills officials, who will review aspects of the $7 million proposal tonight.

"We've had a tremendous level of support from the village and the staff as we've gone through the designs," Lawlor said. "There's nothing I'm aware of that would prohibit them from considering these favorably."

The village board won't actually vote on the plans when it gathers at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive. Rather, it will review recommendations from the town's planning and zoning commission regarding the final site, landscaping and architectural designs for the proposed library, which is set to be built on Aspen Drive south of Route 60.

Earlier this month, the commission repeatedly voted unanimously to approve the library designs.

On Tuesday, library board member Chris Dalton said he's "very optimistic and very glad things are moving forward in Vernon Hills."

Lawlor expects the board will follow the commission's recommendations when it eventually votes on the project, which could happen in early October.

"Mayor (Roger) Byrne and the village board have been wonderful," he said. "(Today's) meeting is just another step in the partnership we've had with them."

The library board's relationship with Libertyville hasn't been as smooth. Cook Memorial also want to expand the library at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave. in downtown Libertyville.

That project also will cost about $7 million, officials have projected. Both efforts are to be done without increasing taxes, library officials have said.

Libertyville trustees criticized the architectural designs in the spring, however, forcing the library board's architects to redraw the plans.

Cook Memorial officials are set to open construction bids for the Vernon Hills project on Oct. 15. Work could begin this year, Lawlor said.

That day can't come soon enough for Byrne.

"When I became mayor in 1993, I identified (the need for a library) in our strategic plan," he said. "We've been planning this for a long time."

Work on the Libertyville site is expected to begin in spring 2009.