Follow-Up:
An additional article from dundeeonline.com:
Ida Township to put library millage on the ballot
Ida Township voters will be asked to approve a half-mill levy to build a new library. The five-year levy will appear on the August primary ballot. Ida Township Clerk Don Appleman said the township board voted to put the issue on the ballot at the Tuesday, May 7 meeting. The half-mill is expected to bring in about $65,000 a year, for a total of about $325,000 over the life of the levy. In addition, the township plans to contribute $100,000 out of the general fund toward the project, and about $75,000 in private donations also is to go toward the building— including some funds raised by the Friends of the Library group— for a total of $500,000. Ida Township Treasurer Denise Horner said that Ida Township currently only levies a half-mill fire equipment millage, which is renewed every four years. There is no road millage or extra operating millage levied by the township. The proposed library building already has been designed, by David Arthur Consultants of Ida and includes a community room and museum room as well as the library area. The building design resembles an historic depot, and would be located on property already owned by the township, essentially behind where the present library is situated. The current library is housed in a former portable school classroom, which has badly deteriorated; it also does not have restroom facilities. It still has its original carpeting. Although the library is part of the Monroe County Library System, all the buildings are owned and maintained by the individual townships. “The township paid one dollar for this building 25 years ago,” said Ida librarian Barb Drodt, “I think they certainly got their money’s worth.” She said the large community room would be an asset to Ida, because people could use it for family gatherings, funeral luncheons, parties and showers, as well as a meeting place for non-profit groups. It would seat about 117 people. “I know some people don’t like to vote for extra taxes— not for anything,” said Mrs. Drodt. “But I think this would really benefit the entire community.” She added, “The millage would cost about $25 a year for someone with a house with a value of $100,000.” The $25 is about the average cost of a paperback book or a new DVD, and many property owners would not have to pay that much. Mrs. Drodt said that the tiny library is well used by area residents, and an active Friends of the Library group provides many programs for children. “We have a good circulation for a library of our size,” said Mrs. Drodt. “We do a lot better than some bigger libraries.” The former portable classroom building which has served as the Ida public library for the last 25 years, will be replaced if Ida Township voters approve a half-mill library millage at the August primary election. http://www.dundeeonline.com/articles/20.2.2002.html
Here is a link that might be useful: Online article