Algoma residents are voicing their displeasure over a planned move of many of their operations, including the library, to a former bank building. Late last month, Mayor Steve Lautenbach announced that the city entered a contract with Associated Bank to purchase its building at 208 Steele Street for $200,000 after the Algoma City Council unanimously approved it. City Administrator Matt Murphy said its current city hall and police department building, located at 416 Fremont Street, requires several upgrades and repairs to keep it viable, including $1 million for a new heating and cooling system. A tunnel connects the main city hall building with the library, which is located at 406 Fremont Street. Murphy added that investing in a building like that did not make sense.

Residents have made their thoughts known in the weeks since the announcement. At the Algoma Public Library Board meeting on October 21st, residents raised concerns about the potential loss of parking and greenspace, accessibility issues if the library is placed on the third floor of the building, and safety concerns for children and families looking to visit. The current library recently had $40,000 in carpet installed. Algoma Library Director Cathy Kolbeck suggested that new furniture would also have to be purchased due to the size of the new space.

The Algoma City Council briefly discussed the city hall/library site as a potential place for a new fire and EMS building, but it was shelved for a different location due to its proximity to the school.

The potential move is on the agenda for the Algoma Public Library Board meeting scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m.