New Wirt Library to be Occupied in Early January; Opening Seen in February
Interior Work Proceeding as Thumb Bank Seeks Tax Break on Old Building
December 11, 2005
By: Dave Rogers
New Jack and Alice Wirt Library, 500 Center Avenue, stands on site of old jail dating back to 1860s.
How would you like to move thousands of books two blocks in the middle of winter?
That's the daunting task facing Fred Paffhausen, director of the Bay County Library System, and county workers in the next month or so.
Steven D. List, superintendent of buildings and grounds, reported to the County Commission that he has been informed "the library system is busy planning for the move into the new facility in early January so the opening can take place sometime in February, if everything goes according to plan."
Meanwhile, the 2006 county budget has been adopted for $33,342,259 in general operating fund expenditures. Other expenditures planned are: special revenue funds, $26,883,744; debt service funds, $3,962,788; capital project funds, $892,455; enterprise funds, $19,231,522; internal service funds, $5,480,176; and trust funds, $15,331,116.
The total number of mills to be levied is 10.1838, divided as follows: general operating, 5.7441; library construction, .9985; library operating, 1.1982; mosquito control, .4493; senior citizens, .4992; 911 central dispatch, .6989; medical care facility, .5; historical society, .0956.
The organizational meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. According to a resolution adopted several years ago, the term of the chairman is limited to one year. Current chair is Commissioner Eugene F. Gwizdala and Vice Chair is Richard L. Byrne of Pinconning.
Commissioner Brian K. Elder, D-7th District, current chairman of the ways and means committee, is believed to be a candidate for the chairman's post for the next year.
The Bay City commission has scheduled a public hearing Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. on application of Thumb National Bank for a $1.3 million Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District for the old library at 708 Center Ave. The bank has purchased the library building and plans to convert it for banking use.
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