Bloomington council rejects library relocation

Library
Bloomington aldermen voted 6-2 for the library to expand at its current Olive St. location.  (File photo)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council favors expanding the public library at its current site on E. Olive St., rather than moving it to the northern part of downtown.

The council voted 6-2 to back the library board’s preference to stay at the existing location.

The Downtown Task Force, chaired by Alderman Amelia Buragas, suggested a new library and Connect Transit transfer center might replace the aging Market Street garage as a catalyst project for downtown.

Buragas said the council’s vote was premature because there are too many unanswered questions.

“One of the biggest questions we all know we’re going to get at the end of the day is, if we expand on site, is that the most fiscally responsible decision?”

“If we don’t ask some of these questions about location, and what other options are there, we can’t answer that question,” Buragas said.

Alderman Scott Black also voted no because he feels replacing the O’Neil Park pool is higher priority.

“The library is a functional building. O’Neil Pool is threatened with not being able to be opened within this year, next year, we are well past our life,” said Black.

Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe said it’s time to give the library board some closure after years of uncertainty, while Council member Diana Hauman would like to see a single library for Bloomington and Normal.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…