Stung by Libertyville board, library officials considering altering plans

Stung by the Libertyville village board's complaints about expansion plans for the main library there, Cook Memorial Public Library District officials are considering scaling back the proposal.

Instead of adding 11,200 square feet to the Milwaukee Avenue facility, Cook Memorial officials might leave the building at its current size and only improve the interior.

They would then shift much of the money earmarked for that expansion to the planned construction of a new library on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills. Both projects have $7 million price tags and are set to proceed simultaneously.

The move could expand the proposed Vernon Hills library by an additional 12,000 square feet, library Director Dan Armstrong said. That would bring the building to roughly 32,000 square feet -- nearly the current size of the Libertyville library.

"If we can do it, we want to do our original plan," Armstrong said today. "But as a fallback plan, we need to have the option of expanding the building in Vernon Hills."

Libertyville Trustee Bob Peron said he was surprised by Armstrong's latest proposal, which will be formally unveiled at a library board meeting Tuesday night. Although he was among the trustees who didn't like the building's design during a public review last week, Peron said village leaders don't want to kill the deal.

"Why would they ask us for our input, but only if we agree?" he said. "Yeah, we didn't agree with it totally. But that's the first time we saw it."

Cook Memorial officials plan to borrow money for the project. A tax-rate increase will not be needed.

On Tuesday, Armstrong will ask the board to consider a new, two-track concept.

If the village board allows the current expansion plan to progress in a timely manner, work would proceed on the original designs.

But if the permitting and approval process in Libertyville doesn't move forward as the library board wants, the original plan would be scrapped and the Vernon Hills proposal would expand, Armstrong's new proposal indicates.

If that happens, work still would be done at the main library, Armstrong said. For example, a new heating and air conditioning system would be installed and new furniture would be added.

Additionally, some administrative offices and services would shift to the Vernon Hills building, creating more public space at the Libertyville library, Armstrong said.

"In either case, it will be a positive (improvement) for both libraries," he said.

Whereas Vernon Hills officials have been supportive of the library plans, Libertyville trustees were cool to the concept during last week's meeting. Although they've backed the idea of expansion, they disliked the designs, especially the proposal for a second story addition.

They instead suggested a ground-level addition on part of what is now the library parking lot. They said an existing village parking lot and planned municipal garages would offer ample parking, but library officials are wary.

Library board President Aaron Lawlor is concerned about how many of those proposed spots will be taken by commuters and employees at area businesses, or reserved for cars with Libertyville vehicle stickers.

Cook Memorial officials hope they don't have to change their plans but insist the maneuver isn't a bluff.

"I came here to get something done," said Armstrong, who was hired last year, in part, because of the expansion plan he presented during the interview process. "My job as an administrator is to get expanded facilities, one way or another."

Armstrong will present the plan to the board during its 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Laschen Center, 294 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills. It is open to the public.

Library officials expect a majority of the board will support the concept, but it won't be unanimous. Trustee Ann E. Oakley, who's repeatedly opposed the expansion proposal, said she'd be "highly, highly upset" if the plan to expand the main library is abandoned.

Likewise, Oakley is against any proposal that would make the proposed Vernon Hills facility even larger.

She called Armstrong's proposal an ultimatum that would again divide the Libertyville and Vernon Hills communities. They have feuded over library and school issues through the years.

"And that is not what we want to do," she said.