The Galesburg Public Library has hopes that funding will soon become available to construct a new library and they want to be prepared to build.
Galesburg City Council on Monday night discussed granting the Library’s board of trustees eminent domain authority to buy property’s on the block which is marked for the new library.
Eminent domain is a process where a government body takes private property for just compensation.
Library Director Noelle Thompson says that the library has no plans to actually use eminent domain.
She says it would just be a tool if necessary.
Director Thompson says asking the council for eminent domain authority is just a way to be prepared.
“We have no plans to exercise that authority right now and we don’t anticipate needing to. We’re very confident in negotiating with the property owners and had good success so far. But, we do want to be prepared and responsible and start that process as soon as possible.”
But Thompson adds that acquisition of these properties has been a long time in the works.
“I think we first [began] working with appraisers in 2009 and again in 2012 or 2013. [We have been] speaking with property owners for that amount of time and have purchased some properties in the meantime. [We are] currently working with Martin Cory for appraising and Kit Wilcox to communicate with those property owners for some time now.”
Thompson says they began working with appraisers in 2009 and over time have negotiated with several of the block’s property owners, and have already acquired a few.
City Attorney Brad Nolden says eminent domain cases can linger for years or be resolved quickly depending on circumstances.
The library originally applied for a grant for a 73,000 sq. ft building, costing about $21 million, including property acquisition costs. 75 percent of the project would be covered by state money.
However, Thompson says they’ve been working with the architect to scale down the building’s square footage, and future operating costs.
Thompson also says that Galesburg Director of Public Works Wayne Carl has agreed to serve on the library’s construction committee as a liaison to the city.
