Warsaw Library Seeks Elevator Solutions
A second elevator and an outdoor ramp are also concerns
February 13, 2018 at 6:18 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
On Monday, the library’s board of trustees approved plans to seek a consultant that will look at a long-term remedy.
The main problem is the elevator that provides access to people in wheelchairs and others at the library’s entrance. It is small and the accordion-style door inside the elevator is antiquated and often broken.
That elevator has been a source of problems for more than a year and has been inoperable for about two weeks, according to Library Director Ann Zydek.
The alternative is an exterior ramp on the east side of the building that is accessed by a long sidewalk that hooks around the building and runs along the edge of North Detroit Street. The ramp has several tight turns, is too narrow for modern wheelchairs and becomes slick in cold, wet winter weather.
The ramp has drawn complaints from patrons, said Zydek, some of who don’t like that precipitation runs off the roof, drips on them and collects on the ramp.
Zydek says she believes the ramp has become outdated and undersized to serve larger, motorized wheelchairs.
“We’ve had to direct people out to the ramp, and for some people that’s very difficult. It’s a long walk,” Zydek said.
“We’re hearing people say, ‘Yes, we understand it meets ADA standards, but it’s not convenient.’” Zydek said.
A third problem is an interior elevator that provides access to wheelchair users and others to the second floor where almost all of the adult and childrens materials can be found.
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That elevator has had electronic issues and has been sporadically inoperable.
Replacement parts for both elevators have become more difficult to find, Zydek said.
The library has spent more than $20,000 in the past 13 months to service the main elevator and faces another $800 bill in hopes of getting it functioning again.
With a sense of frustration, Zydek proposed tapping into some of the library’s rainy day fund, which has a balance of about $260,000, to pay for a consultant.
The board agreed Monday to pursue a consultant.
Solutions won’t be simple and may involve renovating the building’s entrance.
The entrance elevator’s cavity is not big enough to accommodate a full-size elevator and would have to be expanded.
Relocating the elevator would also face challenges because of how the entrance and nearby stairs are configured.
“It’s a little bit a logistics issue as well,” Zydek said.
Robin Fosnaugh, administrative assistant, said they will explore the idea of having one elevator to serve all three floors and the entrance.
“That’s what we think they will steer us toward,” Fosnaugh said. “From a financial standpoint for maintenance, that makes more sense, but that’s something for the consultant.”
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On Monday, the library’s board of trustees approved plans to seek a consultant that will look at a long-term remedy.
The main problem is the elevator that provides access to people in wheelchairs and others at the library’s entrance. It is small and the accordion-style door inside the elevator is antiquated and often broken.
That elevator has been a source of problems for more than a year and has been inoperable for about two weeks, according to Library Director Ann Zydek.
The alternative is an exterior ramp on the east side of the building that is accessed by a long sidewalk that hooks around the building and runs along the edge of North Detroit Street. The ramp has several tight turns, is too narrow for modern wheelchairs and becomes slick in cold, wet winter weather.
The ramp has drawn complaints from patrons, said Zydek, some of who don’t like that precipitation runs off the roof, drips on them and collects on the ramp.
Zydek says she believes the ramp has become outdated and undersized to serve larger, motorized wheelchairs.
“We’ve had to direct people out to the ramp, and for some people that’s very difficult. It’s a long walk,” Zydek said.
“We’re hearing people say, ‘Yes, we understand it meets ADA standards, but it’s not convenient.’” Zydek said.
A third problem is an interior elevator that provides access to wheelchair users and others to the second floor where almost all of the adult and childrens materials can be found.
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That elevator has had electronic issues and has been sporadically inoperable.
Replacement parts for both elevators have become more difficult to find, Zydek said.
The library has spent more than $20,000 in the past 13 months to service the main elevator and faces another $800 bill in hopes of getting it functioning again.
With a sense of frustration, Zydek proposed tapping into some of the library’s rainy day fund, which has a balance of about $260,000, to pay for a consultant.
The board agreed Monday to pursue a consultant.
Solutions won’t be simple and may involve renovating the building’s entrance.
The entrance elevator’s cavity is not big enough to accommodate a full-size elevator and would have to be expanded.
Relocating the elevator would also face challenges because of how the entrance and nearby stairs are configured.
“It’s a little bit a logistics issue as well,” Zydek said.
Robin Fosnaugh, administrative assistant, said they will explore the idea of having one elevator to serve all three floors and the entrance.
“That’s what we think they will steer us toward,” Fosnaugh said. “From a financial standpoint for maintenance, that makes more sense, but that’s something for the consultant.”
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