DATE: December 18, 2009

Next Week’s City Have you visited the Gardiner Public Library lately?  We began a renovation project of the main floor in mid-September and we still are under construction.  Though we had planned on a finish date of 11/30, we uncovered some unexpected structural needs.  Our 3-phased plan included the renovation of the Children’s Room the first year, restoration of the main floor during phase 2 and the final phase will be the upgrading of our Community Archives Room.

The main floor restoration includes the removal of the dropped ceiling, replacing the carpets, exposing the full span of the windows, painting and a bit of reconstruction of some lost woodwork.  When we removed the ceiling, we discovered that the interior walls had spread apart enough that we needed to add some structural beams so that the building will remain stable for another 128 years.  If you visit the library over the next few weeks, you can view the original brick work and the steel beam we installed.  From an engineering viewpoint, it is quite fascinating.  From an architectural viewpoint, the beam is quite unsightly.  Next week, the contractor will be installing sheetrock and the original brickwork and the unsightly beam will be covered.

After this unexpected construction is finished, things should fall in place quickly.  The contractors will be laying the flooring; installing the new, beautiful lights; finishing the painting and their last chore will be to sand the floors.  The new finish date is January 15th.  Come see what we have done…while you are in the library please thank the staff for conducting library services within a construction zone!

The library is our downtown’s anchor and when we finish the restoration, this city jewel will be fully polished.  Do you want to become part of our downtown business community?  The Gardiner Main Street organization is looking for a new Executive Director.  Applications are still being accepted and interviews will be scheduled soon.   There is a special sense of purpose when you work in the  town in which you live.

I would like to wish our whole greater Gardiner community the happiest of holidays.  Please remember that Gardiner City services will close down at 11AM on Thursday, 12/24 and we will reopen on Monday, 12/28.  Due to the short work week, there will be no weekly update until 12/31.

Gardiner City Hall – 6 Church Street, Gardiner, ME 04345
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm   (207) 582-4200