If everything moves ahead as anticipated, the Olson Memorial Library in Eagle River will have a new owner in the near future.
The town of Lincoln, one of seven municipalities participating in the joint operation of the library, passed a motion last week to accept transfer of the library property from the City of Eagle River to the town.
There are some contingencies, but Lauri Stoegbauer, president of the library trustees, is confident they will be worked out and the transfer will become final.
"So we’re still waiting but we want to thank the town of Lincoln for stepping up and stepping forward to get the library project moving."
The Lincoln town clerk, Shelly Savola has agreed to serve as fiscal agent the library, in the wake of the City of Eagle River’s decision to terminate its ownership of the library along with its fiscal agency no later than August 15th.
Stoegbauer said both the library trustees and the library foundation, which has raised $2.5 million for remodeling and expanding the existing library, are happy with the transfer from the city of Eagle River to the town of Lincoln.
"Right now, we think the start date for breaking ground will be April, 2015, depending on how things are going. If at all possible, perhaps we can start developing the site yet this fall, but we’re not real confident that will happen."
Questions surrounding the expansion project were a large part of what motivated the Eagle River city council to unanimously vote in June…to transfer library ownership to another municipality.
