The first weeks in office for any newly-elected public officer serve as a good time to lay groundwork for the agenda's most pressing issues, so it makes sense that Madison Mayor Paul Soglin jumped right into the action.
What does not make sense is the way Soglin immediately made clear he did not feel comfortable breaking ground on the long-awaited and newly-finalized Central Library reconstruction project due to a lack of finalization on a portion of the funds. Of the projected $29.5 million price tag, the Madison Public Library Foundation is reportedly $8.2 million short and recently said raising the money could take up to three years.
Concern over the money is not the problem. The mayor has every reason to consider the financial state of the city, as he campaigned on platforms that emphasized cutting back on the amount of money the city borrows.
Still, putting the brakes on the project months before construction starts, especially after many years of frustration and planning, is counterproductive for the library system and the city.
Any extended period—whether it's the projected three years or shorter—with the existing facility on West Mifflin Street is far from ideal. The 46-year-old structure has malfunctioning elevators and a host of other problems that may or may not be held together by spit and glue for the foreseeable future. Repairing the elevator will cost $30,000, but any problems with the heating and cooling systems could send expenses right through the Central Library's leaky roof.
The Central Library Foundation's track record of fundraising is much more sound than the structural integrity of the current building. They have consistently hit their goals and there is no reason to doubt they will come up with the $8.2 million by the time the final installments must be paid.
Really, delaying the project would be a bigger hindrance to fundraising efforts than anything. Soglin runs the risk of losing donations from the community if he stops the project now. And it is unlikely the city will slam down the renovations if the $8.2 million mark isn't be reached—making the delay illogical. Construction will not be put off forever, and creating any sort of standoff between the city and its citizens can only ensure more headaches.
On the bright side, there is still time for a resolution. Ground is not set to be broken until the fall and Soglin has yet to formally approach the Common Council for input. While he is unlikely to completely change his tune, the mayor may be able to secure pledges from public entities until private donations can be raised, as he did with the Monona Terrace project in the 1990s.
In the event this does not happen, we ask the mayor to think twice before temporarily shelving the library. Practically, construction prices and interest rates are low now and the current building is losing life fast. The Edgewater and Overture Projects dragged on and on, but that sort of frustration can be avoided here. Trust the Central Library Foundation and move forward on the current schedule.
