Committee formed to promote library

A new committee was recently formed to push for the passage of the $3 million library bond on the February ballot in Coeur d’Alene.

Citizens for a New Library is using the theme “Coeur d’Alene is overdue for a new library” to lobby for residents’ votes.

The campaign committee is co-chaired by Sandy Patano of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig’s office and local attorney Denny Davis.

“Coeur d’Alene outgrew the current library 15 years ago, and our population has doubled since then,” Patano said in a press release.

The current library on Harrison Avenue is cramped, housing 13,000 more volumes that its capacity allows. Yet the library is still short 40,000 volumes from the national standards for city libraries. The building also lacks space for computers, programs and special needs materials.

The $3 million library bond, which would be paid off over 20 years, would build a new two-story building on a lot across from City Hall that already has been purchased with the help of the city’s urban renewal agency, Lake City Development Corp. The 42,000-square-foot building would give the library room to double the number of books and other materials, add 24 computers and provide more programs and services.

Also on the Feb. 1 ballot is a $7 million public safety bond. The bonds will be separate issues on the ballot. Each measure must get two-thirds voter approval to pass.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council won’t finalize the official ballot language until December.

The $7 million public safety bond, which would be paid off over 10 years, would help the second busiest fire department in the state keep serving Coeur d’Alene’s skyrocketing population. Specifically, it would build a training center that both the city fire and area law enforcement agencies could use, buy fire trucks and equipment, and remodel two fire stations.

The city also would pay off the new fire and police stations. That would open up $2 million in the city’s pocketbook, which would be used to hire police and fire staff.

Together the two bonds would cost the owner of a $150,000 home about $5.89 a month, or $79.67 annually.

The library bond portion would cost the owner of the same house about $1.29 per month.