By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
Following discussion Monday night, the City of Elkhorn Municipal Services and Utilities Committee opted in favor of recommending the full council allow the Department of Public Works to remove a shrub for Matheson Memorial Library.
The removal of the shrub was a small part of a much a larger project the library is looking to complete. The part of the project committee members were in agreement with Monday night includes the removal of a shrub by city workers, the installation of a butterfly garden, made possible by a $250 grant from Thrivent Financial, and perennial beds.
However, the part of the plans to renovate the patch of land alongside the library and Court Street that includes the installation of a fence was the part committee members wanted further information on before making any type of recommendation to the council.
Matheson Memorial Library Director Lisa Selje said Monday night that with children exiting that side of the building for activities from the children’s area of the library and Court Street being a busy street, she wants to make sure children are safe on that side of the library.
Selje said they thought about shrubbery, though ultimately those involved in the process returned to the idea of a fence along the sidewalk to create more of an enclosure on the side of the building and keeping children away from the street.
Estimates for the fence came in at about $6,000, according to Selje, something that the library foundation is prepared to provide the funding for.
Committee members weren’t opposed to the idea of creating a safe environment for children along that side of the building, however, they did have several concerns about putting a fence up along Court Street.
For the complete story, see the May 26 edition of the Elkhorn Independent.
