The West University Place city council approved about $300,000 in renovations to the city’s library earlier this month.

According to city documents, the $300,000 will cover safety enhancements by adding a second floor fire escape, fire alarm and sprinkler system, and panic hardware on doors. The money will also help replace the two existing restrooms with ADA-compliant restrooms, replace the building’s handrails with guardrails and install exit signs.

“I can’t really find anything to show any significant improvements outside of your typical painting, carpets, stuff like that,” Public Works Director David Beach said, adding that the most recent renovation consisted of smaller projects in 2005. “With that being said, a couple of years ago, there was some discussion of the library and the future of it. Staff and an architect looked at the facility and kind of tried to determine the current condition.”

Beach said the library is OK structurally but it still needed safety upgrades. The building was built in 1963, according to city documents, and is about 5,500 square feet.

City staff said the $300,000 was already placed in the city’s budget last year. Beach, in documents submitted to council, said the cost should remain as estimated as long as the Harris County Public Library system “would be responsible for their costs associated with relocating their shelves, books and staff.”

Rebuilding the bathrooms could impede some or all services during the construction, the document states, but council members said patrons will be able to use the nearby community center restrooms during the renovations.

Council unanimously approved City Manager Chris Peifer to seek out bids for construction contract, which will have to be approved by council before any construction can begin.
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