Changes may be on the horizon for Bradenton Beach City Hall and the Tingley Memorial Library.
But city officials hope to get public input before making any hard decisions in their planning to harden city property against future hurricanes.
City commissioners reached consensus Feb. 18 to workshop a question for the November ballot to ask voters about the contemplated changes.
Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro were absent with excuse.
City officials have previously discussed a laundry list of repairs and potential improvements for the two buildings.
Public works director Tom Woodard has said that city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., is aging and needs extensive hardening against storm conditions — flooding and high winds.
Tingley Memorial Library, 111 Second St. N., was constructed following the 1986 death of resident Beulah Tingley — a political activist, champion of women’s rights and an avid reader — who bequeathed more than $600,000 for the construction and operation of a library within city limits.
The library needs a new roof and exterior staircases, as well as hurricane windows, according to Woodard.
The exorbitant cost of the proposed work has not been budgeted, preventing repairs from moving forward.
Mayor John Chappie opened the discussion by stating that city officials and staff need to consider all options for the buildings, including if any property should be sold, repurposed or leased, as well as if the spaces could be consolidated.
In the meantime, Chappie proposed placing a non-binding advisory question on the ballot in November to gain public input about how to handle the properties.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she didn’t want to make any major changes to city hall but questioned why the city needed a library.
She said costs would continue to rise while the bequeath funding the library shrinks.
The bequeath obligates the city to provide a “reading room,” the city attorney told the commission.
The city was holding around $400,000 from the bequeath in CD accounts by early 2020, according to city treasurer Shayne Thompson. However, Thompson did not answer a Feb. 19 email from The Islander asking for an updated accounting.
Commissioner Jake Spooner suggested holding a workshop between city commissioners and staff to discuss the options for the buildings and language for a ballot question.
Chappie agreed.
Bradenton Beach resident Dan Morhaus commended commissioners during public comment for tackling the issue.
“It’s good to do your due diligence,” Morhaus said. “You’re just evaluating if change is necessary.”