The Des Plaines City Council has voted to continue leasing the new $13.8 million Des Plaines Library to the library board instead of signing the building’s deed over to the board.
Ald. Dick Sayad called efforts to give the library board legal control of the building at 1501 Ellinwood St. ridiculous because city bond revenue paid for it.
Library Board member John Burke argued that municipalities such as Arlington Heights and Northbrook have paid for new libraries but have relinquished titles to the buildings to the library boards.
“In northern Illinois, it’s the custom and practice to give the title to the library board,” Des Plaines City Atty. David Wiltse said.
A few residents who attended a committee of the whole meeting agreed with a majority of aldermen that the city should hold title.
“The taxpayers paid for the library, and the issue of accountability is what’s important here,” resident Laura Murphy said.
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“School boards and park districts own their own buildings because they are elected by the voters. In this city, the library board is not elected.”
Ald. Joyce Petersen, the only alderman to vote against retaining title, said the City Council action was “almost like a power play.”
“I don’t see why we as a city can’t work together on this,” Petersen said.
In 1999 Mayor Paul Jung tentatively approved a 20-year library lease, at $1 a year, that would keep control of the property in city hands until the bonds that paid for the building were retired. That deal was never approved by the City Council.
Terms of a new lease with the library will be discussed at future council sessions, officials said.
The council also voted 6-1 to formally consider new uses for the former library at 841 Graceland Ave. That building has been empty since the new library opened last year and has been the subject of inquiries by developers, officials said.
The city took title to the old library in 1999 in exchange for providing $1.8 million in furnishings, fixtures and equipment for the new library.
Aldermen asked for cost estimates for structural repairs at the old library and to gauge what interest service organizations might have in the building.
“Using the building as a community center did have overwhelming community support last year,” Ald. Patricia Beauvais said.
The City Council will discuss the issue again March 12.