NEW GLARUS - Despite the results of a referendum vote in April that named Glarner Park as the location for a new library, the New Glarus Village Board voted Tuesday to table discussion until cost estimates are addressed.
Those estimates include costs for relocating the baseball field at Glarner Park and safety precautions for the proposed westside location. The board is also seeking a statement from the Department of Transportation regarding speed limit changes. Cost estimates and the statement are expected to be ready for the next board meeting in June.
The April referendum asked New Glarus residents a nonbinding question about whether or not the library should be located at Glarner Park, west of where the library now stands, or on the west side of town by the Swiss Center of North America. The Glarner Park location won by a slim, seven-vote margin. Residents had also voted to approve another referendum question that asked if the board should borrow up to $1 million in funds with an additional $40,000 to build a new library, which passed with 231 in favor and 191 against.
Tuesday's board meeting was tasked with deciding whether or not to take action on a location, but most of the village trustees on the board opted to gather more information. The small village hall boardroom was packed with residents who wished to voice their comments and opinions about the library issue.
As one local mother Lisa B. Rightee said, "The library belongs in the heart of the village." While few disagreed with her sentiment, the westside location was still up for debate.
Joel Piper, a man from outside of town whose son plays baseball at Glarner Park, said, "If it's (the library) put at Glarner and the field is relocated, great, but we are taking a village resource away if the field isn't relocated."
The majority of the village trustees remained unsure about whether or not to secure a location until safety costs could be addressed.
"By and large, my biggest concern is safety, safety, safety, safety," village trustee Greg Thoemke said. He was not in support of the westside location for the proposed 10,700-square-foot library until issues like installing sidewalks and reducing speed limits could be looked at.
Village trustee Eric Gobeli said he was not in support of either location, but he had particular grievances about the proposed Glarner Park spot.
"I don't want to take away the only ball field in town my kid can play on," Gobeli said.
Petra Streiff was one of the two detractors from the tabling vote, saying she wants to see a new library built sooner rather than later.
"We don't have the magic, perfect place," she said. "But I trust the people at the library, and I know they will make the right choices with the money."
Thoemke disagreed with Streiff, and asked her if she could guarantee the westside location would be safe for children and other library patrons.
"Are there any guarantees in life?" Streiff said.
"When it comes to the safety of our loved ones, there should be," Thoemke said.
The discussion was tabled with five in favor and two against.
Most of the comments and opinions shared appeared to have a tone of frustration, but several small moments of levity helped to cool the filled room. Travis Sysko a third-grade teacher and basketball coach at New Glarus School District, helped ease tensions with a little humor.
"I see a lot of passion on both sides of the fence; I feel like I'm at a Republican or Democratic debate," Sysko said. "I wouldn't dare call anyone a Democrat or Republican, but we should be celebrating a new library - not fighting."
Those estimates include costs for relocating the baseball field at Glarner Park and safety precautions for the proposed westside location. The board is also seeking a statement from the Department of Transportation regarding speed limit changes. Cost estimates and the statement are expected to be ready for the next board meeting in June.
The April referendum asked New Glarus residents a nonbinding question about whether or not the library should be located at Glarner Park, west of where the library now stands, or on the west side of town by the Swiss Center of North America. The Glarner Park location won by a slim, seven-vote margin. Residents had also voted to approve another referendum question that asked if the board should borrow up to $1 million in funds with an additional $40,000 to build a new library, which passed with 231 in favor and 191 against.
Tuesday's board meeting was tasked with deciding whether or not to take action on a location, but most of the village trustees on the board opted to gather more information. The small village hall boardroom was packed with residents who wished to voice their comments and opinions about the library issue.
As one local mother Lisa B. Rightee said, "The library belongs in the heart of the village." While few disagreed with her sentiment, the westside location was still up for debate.
Joel Piper, a man from outside of town whose son plays baseball at Glarner Park, said, "If it's (the library) put at Glarner and the field is relocated, great, but we are taking a village resource away if the field isn't relocated."
The majority of the village trustees remained unsure about whether or not to secure a location until safety costs could be addressed.
"By and large, my biggest concern is safety, safety, safety, safety," village trustee Greg Thoemke said. He was not in support of the westside location for the proposed 10,700-square-foot library until issues like installing sidewalks and reducing speed limits could be looked at.
Village trustee Eric Gobeli said he was not in support of either location, but he had particular grievances about the proposed Glarner Park spot.
"I don't want to take away the only ball field in town my kid can play on," Gobeli said.
Petra Streiff was one of the two detractors from the tabling vote, saying she wants to see a new library built sooner rather than later.
"We don't have the magic, perfect place," she said. "But I trust the people at the library, and I know they will make the right choices with the money."
Thoemke disagreed with Streiff, and asked her if she could guarantee the westside location would be safe for children and other library patrons.
"Are there any guarantees in life?" Streiff said.
"When it comes to the safety of our loved ones, there should be," Thoemke said.
The discussion was tabled with five in favor and two against.
Most of the comments and opinions shared appeared to have a tone of frustration, but several small moments of levity helped to cool the filled room. Travis Sysko a third-grade teacher and basketball coach at New Glarus School District, helped ease tensions with a little humor.
"I see a lot of passion on both sides of the fence; I feel like I'm at a Republican or Democratic debate," Sysko said. "I wouldn't dare call anyone a Democrat or Republican, but we should be celebrating a new library - not fighting."