Project History and Updates
August 2018 – City Council asked the Library Director and community club to start looking into the possibility of a new library and community center.
September – October 2018 – Library staff visited libraries in nine communities for ideas.
October 2018 – Library applies for and receives a grant from the State Library of Iowa for a space needs assessment.
December 2018 – Slater Community Club donates $150,000 as seed money for the project.
February 2019 – Space needs assessment completed and presented to the library board and city.
March 2019 – City gives go ahead to form a building committee and start looking into architects.
April 2019 – City decides on 405 Main Street location.
May 2019 – Building committee meets for the first time and RFPs are sent to architects.
August 2019 – Architects are interviewed and FEH Design is hired.
September 2019 –Preliminary meetings with FEH.
November 2019 – Design Workshops are held at City Hall.
December 2019 – Floor plans and exterior elevation displayed at Christmas on Main.
January 2020 – Building is projected to cost $5.8 Million. The building committee begins work on sponsorship information and fundraising materials.
March 2020 – Project is paused due to pandemic.
January 2021 – Committee resumes grant research and fundraising efforts.
June 2021 – Start scheduling meetings and presentations with the community and local businesses.
May 2022 – Grant information is released from the State of Iowa prompting a look at other sources of funding to meet grant qualifications requiring 50-60% of funding to apply.
June 2022 – Fundraising efforts reach $1.4 million.
July 2022 – Slater City Council votes to approve a special election in September for a bond of $2.5 million to aid in grant writing for the project with an updated estimated cost of $7.6 million.
September 2022 – Bond vote does not pass. 52% approval received, when 60% is required.
August 2023 – Slater City Council votes to proceed with the building project by placing a bond referendum for $2.5 million dollars on the November ballot.
November 2023 - Bond vote does not pass. 55% approval received, when 60% is required. Fundraising continues.
July 2024 - Committee meets with Architects at FEH Design to use a grant to redesign the project. Updates include addition of City Hall offices, reduction of community center space to accommodate 225 people, and reduce overall square footage to reduce building costs.
August 2024 - Slater City Council votes to proceed with the updated building project by placing a bond referendum for $2.5 million dollars on the November ballot.
September 2024 – Fundraising efforts reach $1.8 million.
November 2024 - Bond vote does not pass. 55% approval received, when 60% is required. Fundraising continues.
