The Louisville Public Library, 951 Spruce St., will close for 3-4 weeks in April to accommodate interior renovations. City council approved a contract for the work at the Feb. 18 meeting.
Niwot-based Blue Spruce Construction Services won the $317,788 project that includes new carpet, paint, furniture, fixtures and equipment and disability access to the first-floor restrooms of the library.
The original approved budget for the project was $241,240, but all of the bids received during a competitive process exceeded that amount. The overrun will be paid for from the Capital Improvement Fund and the Library Impact Fee fund, according to notes shared with council members.
Work will begin in April. The library will be closed for 3-4 weeks. Limited services — including holds, pickups and browsing of new materials — will be provided in the lobby, staff said. Story times may also be scheduled in the lobby or outside, weather permitting.
Also on Tuesday night, council:
- Approved adjustments to city purchasing policies. Projects under $50,000 will no longer require a competitive bidding process; the previous limit was $25,000.
Requisitions will no longer be required for contracts worth less than $10,000, though staff will still be required to solicit and document three informal (phone or email) quotes for projects with budgets between $5,001 and $10,000, or else document their justification for awarding the contract to a single source. The previous limit for requisitions was $2,500, last updated in 2006.
Requisitions over $10,000 require approval from the city manager and finance director, according to notes shared with council. Amending the requisition limit is expected to cut staff workload on such purchases by half. The city processes more than 400 requisitions each year.
- Met in executive session to discuss undisclosed pending litigation related to a city contract. No report was given to the public following the closed-door meeting.