BY LUTHER DORR - Mille Lacs County Times

Representing the Friends of the Library group, Shelley Larson told Milaca City Council members at their Jan. 21 meeting that the group was concerned about some maintenance issues at the city library.

Larson, noting that the group has contributed money and donated many hours to the library project, asked that the city address the issues she raised.

She said the cover for the book drop was damaged during snow removal, the down spouts on one side of the building have not been finished, there are landscaping problems, and there have been issues with snow and ice removal.

“The biggest issue is the pavers [walkway] at the south end,” she said, noting that Friends of the Library had contributed $9,000 for that project.

Larson said that area was not properly backfilled and that there is a hazard there because the pavers have sunk.

“It’s getting worse and I don’t know what can be done,” she said.

Larson presented council members with an estimate from a local company of about $6,500 to repair the problem.

She asked that the city take care of that repair and perhaps other repairs, saying the sod that was installed was put in too high, got scalped and has died.

Mayor Pete Pedersen said the paver problem was the responsibility of the contractor who did the site preparation.

Council member Ken Muller asked if just one quote had been obtained to correct the paver problem and was told that was the case.

Muller asked when the pavers were laid and city manager Greg Lerud answered that it had been two years.

Mayor Pedersen then suggested having a discussion with the sod contractor and backfill contractor to try to work something out.

There was a consensus from council members to have Lerud contact the contractors.

Later in the meeting during council comments, councilman Wayne Bekius asked about the situation, “Are we going to do something?”

He suggested there be a plan to make corrections at the library permanent, otherwise the council would be dealing with it on a regular basis.

Council members then discussed using decorative rock or wood chips to replace all the grassy areas around the library.

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