The Three Lakes town board next week will continue the process that could eventually mean a new look for the town offices.
Town chair Stella Westfall says they've received bids from four firms to look at whether the current facility next to the E.U. Demmer Memorial Library should be renovated or a new building be constructed. She says initial conversations indicate renovation or rebuild will cost about the same. A decision point is nearing..
".....what we have been doing for the past several months is studying, seeing if it would make more sense to repair what we have or demolish the building and start new. We've met with several engineers and basically they all came to the same conclusion, it's going to cost the same, whether we repair the old building or if we just start over again...."
She says they would like to downsize the building and move it slightly to the north...
"....so it would give the library some additional space for expansion, horizontally instead of vertically, for them. In addition, the historical society is also working with the library to see about some shared space, and then the town is trying to get some additional parking and green space...."
Westfall says if they have to expand in the future, they will have the designs to do so. She says the town board next week will pick one of the firms. Westfall says she would like to have some concept drawings in place by the April annual town meeting.
