St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control Special Meeting - December 17, 2025
St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control Special Meeting - December 17, 2025
The St. Charles Parish Library Board of Control held a special meeting on December 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville, LA. The sole agenda item was the review and approval of the CMAR 60% estimate and alternates for the Hahnville Branch Library Project. The board voted unanimously on all items.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Hahnville Branch Library Project Update: The board reviewed the 60% estimate from the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). The base estimate was presented along with two alternates and an option for a whole-building generator.
- Alternate 1 (Additional Parking): Presented at an increased cost. The library director recommended adding the parking for long-term planning, noting it was a cost-effective addition.
- Alternate 2 (Fencing for Chiller Yard): Use of alternative fencing materials resulting in a cost decrease of $47,213. The library director recommended acceptance.
- Generator Option: A whole-building generator was estimated at approximately $130,000. Current plans include manual switchgear for a rental generator. The library director sought board input. Board members discussed costs, maintenance, and the need to protect the Louisiana Room collection during power outages. Some members expressed mixed feelings due to the branch size and past hurricane impacts, but noted the cost-effectiveness of installing now versus rental fees after storms. Several members noted that the parish is installing generators at many other facilities. The board decided to proceed with the generator.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to adopt the 60% base estimate: Passed unanimously.
- Motion to adopt Alternate 1 (additional parking): Passed unanimously.
- Motion to adopt Alternate 2 (fencing change): Passed unanimously.
- Motion to add a whole-building generator to the plans: Passed unanimously.
- The board acknowledged that accepting all options would slightly exceed the current budget, but noted that the 5% contingency (approximately $450,000) and further design progress to 90% estimates could reduce costs.
Meeting Transcript
No, we're good. Okay. Yeah. All right, it is six o'clock, and this is the St. Charles Parish Board of Control special meeting on December 17th, 2025. Um, thanks to Miss Benedict for organizing us and getting us all in here the week before Christmas. So good job, everyone. Thank you all for being here. All right, if we can stand up and have a moment of silence, and then if the Mr. Mathern can lead us in the pledge. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right, we have a short agenda tonight. Um the attendance report has been circulated. Yes. All right. Um the next item on the agenda is public comment. Do we have any public comment? Nope. All right. So we'll meet move on to why we're really here. Unfinished business, which is the heart Hunville branch library project update. Um, we're gonna review up for review and approval is the CMAR 60% estimate and alternates. Um you want to start? Or should I call sure? Um, so uh you all have received the 60% estimate from the CMAR, and we have Justin um from our architecture firm and Lauren from our CMAR here um to answer any questions that you all might have about this. Um so what you actually have is see you have the 60% estimate, um which is the base estimate, then you have alternate one, which is the estimate for the additional parking. No, yes, for the additional parking that um that we had talked about. Um it is my recommendation that we do add that additional parking. I think this is the time to do it when we're building um and to be really thinking long term for that building. And then the second alternate is for um ultimate alternate materials for the fencing um that will go around the chiller yard, and that is a decrease of um 47,213. Um and again that is something that my uh team recommends that we do. And then the third um part of it, it's not submitted as a a as a specific alternate, but um what they've given us is what an approximate would be to add a generator to the building. Um and that would add about 130,000 dollars. Currently, the the way the plants the plans are spected out, um, and Justin can probably explain this better than I can, but is to have connectors that would allow us to in the event that we have an event, a weather event or whatever where we would need a generator to be able to just bring one in at that time, um, as opposed to always having a generator on the building. Um so that would be the piece of it that I would like the boards um well, obviously all of it. I want the board's input. The first two alternates, um, it is my recommendation that we accept those and move forward with those in our plans. The the generator is where I'd like your feedback. I have um I I kind of could go either way on it. So um if you all have questions though, Justin and Lauren can are here to be able to answer them. I do. Um come along up and just make sure just make sure that you press the um make sure the green button is lit up on your microphones. Um is this a a whole facility generator size? Yes. Use in size for a full generator. Right now, what we have is a manual switch gear, so in the event a storm comes and you round one, you can plug it in and power the building to take the credit for the manual and basically put an automated one with a full generator extending the pad would be the extending the chiller pad to house it. Would be the one thirty. Is that right?
openpublica.com