Ramsey board OKs new library site

The Ramsey County Board on Tuesday voted to move the Arden Hills Library collection to the New Brighton Family Service Center in 2011.

Commissioners spent more than an hour discussing the proposal before voting 6-1 to approve it.

Last year, the county directed the Library Board to find a new home for the aging Arden Hills Library. Otherwise, the branch would be closed at the end of 2010.

The Library Board considered proposals from Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills as well as the New Brighton site. The board chose the New Brighton proposal in part because of its accessibility to schools, senior- and low-income housing and public transportation.

The partnership with the New Brighton Family Service Center will save the Library Board $150,000 annually in operating costs.

"Anytime you close an existing library it's an emotional issue; it's like closing a school," said Commissioner Jan Parker, whose district includes New Brighton. "I believe the process we've gone through has gotten us to a very good solution."

Arden Hills City Council Member Fran Holmes urged the county to spend more time analyzing numbers and also made a case for keeping the library in her city.

"I don't want to see this turned into a turf war; we're looking at the benefit of the community," said New Brighton Mayor Dave Jacobsen. "I think it's time to make a decision."

It's unclear now what will happen to the 50,000-item collection during the construction of the new library, which could open as early as June 2011.

Susan Nemitz, county library director, said the Library Board had planned to close the Arden Hills site in January, but commissioners were concerned about that. Officials now will look into the cost of running the library for six more months while the New Brighton site is expanded.

Commissioner Tony Bennett, whose district includes Arden Hills, voted against the move. He wanted to postpone the decision, study the issue for a year and see what might happen with hundreds of acres of land soon to be opened up for development at the old Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant.

The board still needs to approve a project plan, budget and timeline. Nemitz said she expects to have a proposal in about six weeks.

Other action

Commissioners voted unanimously to apply for a $712,000 grant to go toward the estimated $1.3 million cost of buying new voting machines. The state grant requires the county to match the amount requested dollar for dollar. A source for that matching money hasn't been identified yet, but it's likely the county and cities will share the cost, said Joe Mansky, the county's elections manager. He said he'd like to have new machines ready by 2013.

Staff writer Chris Havens contributed to this story. Emma L. Carew • 651-735-9749