By Jason Stuart
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
The Town of Richey is in need of a new public library facility, but over a year after library and county officials first met with town residents about the issue, the jury’s still out on exactly what shape a new Richey library might take.
Glendive Public Library director Dawn Kingstad said the issue has been complicated by the architect’s report they received on the existing Richey Public Library. She said the architect they hired to examine the building recommended they invest no time or money in trying to renovate it, given its condition.
Tearing the existing building down and erecting a new one in its place is also problematic due to a high amount of asbestos in the old building, making the cost of asbestos abatement cost prohibitive to pursuing that option, Kingstad said.
With that in mind, Kingstad said the county Library Board is now looking at two other possibilities.
One possibility is that they are currently talking to some landowners in Richey who might be willing to donate some property in town where a new library building could be built.
The other possibility is on a somewhat grander scale. The other option the Library Board is considering is to expand and renovate the Richey Senior Center to convert it into a library/senior center/community center.
“If we were to collaborate with the Senior Center, that would be a much bigger project and would need more financing,” Kingstad said. “Either (option) is big, but one is way bigger than the other one.”
At present, the Library Board has about $67,000 set aside for the Richey library project. Kingstad said the library is “very appreciative” of people who have donated to the cause or participated in fundraisers the library has run over the past year for it, but acknowledged fundraising for the project has been “a slow process.” She further noted that in the wake of the oil bust, it is “very understandable” that charitable contributions aren’t being made at quite the same rate they were during the height of the oil boom.
As of right now, Kingstad said the Library Board doesn’t have “a lot of ‘for sures’” regarding how they will proceed with the Richey library project, but noted that will hopefully change soon. The board will be getting a presentation from an architect this Wednesday on their options, along with a list of recommended contractors who they can then go get firm estimates from.
Kingstad said after the board has an estimated cost for each of the options they are considering, they intend to call another public meeting with Richey townsfolk to find out from them how they would like to proceed.
“We definitely want their input,” Kingstad said.
Reach Jason Stuart at rrreporter@rangerreview.com.