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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Highland Library construction nearing completion
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in the next two or three months.”
The present library building at 30
Church Street is for sale for $235,000 and
eventually will be back on the tax roll.
The sale will help to offset some capital
expenditures or could be used to create a
maintenance fund for the new library.
Voters approved $4,855,433 to build a
new library and the project has received
$453,000 in legislative grant assistance;
$200,000 from NYS Sen. George Amedore,
$250,000 from NYS Assemblyman Frank
Skartados and $3,000 in NYS “Bullet” Aid
in 2016-17. Additionally, in the last two
years the library procured two Division
of Library Grants - for $81,000 and a
second for approximately $50,000. The
library itself, through fundraising and
donations, has collected $36,000.
When completed the Project Value will
be approximately $5,425,433 but has a tax
impact locked at $4,855,433.
Lowenthal said the public can
contribute to the project by purchasing a
personalized engraved paving stone that
will be placed in the garden in front of the
library. Paving stones begin at $75 for a 4”
x 8” stone and go up to $500 for a 12”x12”
The new Highland Public Library is nearing completion and is expected to open in late December or early January.
piece. She said the public can also make
donations that will be used for a variety of
needed articles; rockers, benches, chairs,
data power supplies, privacy screening
and shelving to name a few items.
Lowenthal pointed out that at the
time of the library vote they promised
not to add additional staff or any other
With our many years of public service, we will provide Lloyd with a
stable government that safeguards your taxes while exploring
every opportunity to increase efficiency and responsiveness.
significant items to their overall budget.
“It that ever happens it will happen
during the normal course of conversation
with the community and the budgeting
process. When we talk, and that will be
next year’s big job for us, is to really
engage again and discuss whether the
hours that we’re open is enough or does
the community want more and be willing
to support more.” She said there has
been a concentrated focus on children’s
programs, what activities will be in the
community room and how to increase
adult programs.