Creston Library Board interviewed its third and final architectural firm Monday evening and plan to vote on hiring one at its next regular meeting April 6.
A firm will be hired to tell the board the strengths and weaknesses of the Gibson Memorial Library site on Howard Street in Creston and which direction to expand the library to create more space for services.
The firms interviewed include Invision Architecture, OPN Architects and FEH Associates — all of Des Moines.
John Karrmann and Dennis Sharp of FEH Associates interviewed for 90 minutes Monday and used some of that time brainstorming and exploring differ ent scenarios for expansion and possibilities for remodeling the current library. FEH Associates received good reviews from the board afterward.
“If we were voting tonight, I’d go with FEH,” said Connie Maxson, library board member. “I particularly liked their experience and liked their presentation.”
FEH Associates have helped build or are in the process of building 60 libraries in the Midwest. The board agreed that cost estimates from the three firms will be a main factor in their hiring decision, but consensus Monday was the board was leaning toward FEH Associates or OPN Architects.
“They are the ones with library experience,” said Ann Coulter, chairwoman of the library board.
In other library board news:
The board voted unanimously to pay Marilyn Ralls — who resigned as library director at Gibson Memorial Library earlier this month — a two-week salary as part of an exit plan and to “thank her for the years she’s been” at Gibson Memorial Library. Ralls’ final day is March 31.
The board also discussed advertising to fill Ralls position and discussed talking with current staff about their interest in filling in as an acting director.
Coulter said Sue Teutsch has served as acting director at the library before.