Ida Township awards bids for library building
The new building for the Ida Library will hold a new Township Hall, as well.

Ida Township Board members awarded a contract at a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 7 for the construction. Spieker Co. of Perrysburg, Ohio was awarded the contract with the low bid of $585,000. The cost is $116,000 more than to build the library alone. There were bids from 11 companies to build the facility.

The building is expected to begin by March 15, and will be located behind the current township hall on Lewis Avenue. It should be completed by July 18.

A demolition contract has been given to Schumaker Brothers to take down the old buildings behind the current township hall.

The township also has enough money to pay for promised renovations to the fire hall. The firefighters have been assured they will have a shower facility and laundry facilities built.

The fire hall bays also will be adapted, and garage doors enlarged so larger fire trucks will fit inside.

Township Treasurer Denise Horner said the fire hall renovations will be re-bid. Because the township hall will be moved to the new building, all fire hall renovations can be done on the first floor, keeping costs down.

The library construction project will be paid for by a tax levy approved by voters last August, and with private donations. The levy is a half-mill for five years. Township plans to pay the additional $116,000 for township offices out of the township’s general fund.

Landscaping and other improvements will be added around the park area at the new facility, which will house the library, community center and township hall.

“It will be a more family-friendly place,” said Mrs. Horner.