Itasca library makes case for referendum

Entering Thursday night's referendum information meeting, Itasca resident Bill Dotter was adamant that the Itasca Community Library would not get any more of his money after the Feb. 5 election. Within two hours, he had a change of heart and was promising to tell his friends.

The library district is asking voters to approve issuing $1.75 million in library bonds to remediate water leakage and mold growth throughout several areas of the 12-year-old building addition. Thursday night, district officials, engineers and attorneys involved in the process spoke to and answered questions from the 12 residents in attendance.

According to district figures, the increase would cost the owner of a $300,000 home an additional $21.85 per year.

Engineer Kami Farahmandpour said attempts to fix water leaks inside the library in June found mold growing between the exterior EFIS facade and inside walls. Director Betsy Adamowski's office also tested positive for toxic mold.

Farahmandpour said the stucco-like facade can resist water on the outside but trouble is caused when water runs and pools behind it. For that reason, several local towns, including Itasca, now ban the material.

Farahmandpour said air qualities at the library have tested safe as recently as Oct. 28, but the mold still persists behind the walls.

If the voters allow the loan, the library would be resided and have the windows and roof resealed as early as the spring.

"In my mind the numbers just didn't add up to fix a leaky roof so there was no way I could support this," Dotter said. "But now, knowing the scope of the damage, I can see how those costs add up quickly so I'm going to support fixing this and doing it soon."

Not everyone in the audience shared Dotter's mindset as they implored library officials to exhaust all possible warranty and insurance claim options. Others wanted to know why the original contractor wasn't being held responsible for the faulty products.

Adamowski said the district has filed an insurance claim for the costs of the repairs. Should money come in from the claim and the increase be approved, she said the district would then abate the new tax levy to taxpayers.

As for the contractor, the district, architect and contractor negotiated a mutual release in 1996 that prevents further claims being filed between all three.

Without the funds, Adamowski said the library would eventually be ruled unsafe and closed because of the expected low air quality if the mold continues to grow and eventually find its way inside the facility.

"Our story isn't going to change and the mold isn't going to go away if this fails," she said. "The only difference is that costs will go up by the next time we get to ask for the money."

Voters last approved a tax increase for the library in 1993 that allowed the library to expand at its current location, 500 W. Irving Park Road, to more than 27,000 square feet. The renovated facility was dedicated in September 1995.