6/15/24 Update
During our meeting on Wednesday, June 14, 2024, we reviewed and discussed the bids received for the construction of the new Shutesbury Public Library. Following the discussion, we voted to recommend the lowest bidder, Construction Dynamics, Inc., to the Selectboard. The Selectboard has since awarded the contract for the construction of our long-awaited library to Construction Dynamics.
There are several weeks of administrative work ahead before the contractor is fully on board and a groundbreaking can be scheduled. We hope to announce the date of the groundbreaking ceremony by mid-July.
Once again, we thank you for all your support and encouragement.
6/5/24 Update
We received the final Fuss & O'Neil Pumping Test Report for our well installation. See the link at the bottom of this page to read the full report. The conclusion is pumping test results demonstrate that the desired quantity and quality of potable water can be withdrawn safely and sustainably from the bedrock aquifer underlying the site. It is recommended that a point of entry treatment (POET) system be installed to reduce concentrations of radon.
5/16/24 Update
On April 24th, the library project was put out for bid. Currently, bids are due during the first week of June. The committee, along with our Owner's Project Manager (CMS) and Architect team (Oudens-Ello), will review the bids to select a contractor. Following this, we will proceed with contract negotiations and scheduling. Construction is expected to begin in July.
Regarding the well installation, Fuss & O'Neil, the well engineers, have completed the 24-hour well pump test necessary for permitting the public water supply. We will share the final pump test report as soon as it is received.
We are continuing to advance on this project and will keep you updated as new developments unfold.
2/20/24 Update
Through the fall and winter, we have been getting deep into the details of our building design making both small and large changes always keeping in mind our goal; to provide a library that meets our resident’s needs while being mindful of the budget. We have now completed the Design Development phase. Our architects are preparing Construction Documents which will be sent out for contractor bids in April. We’re very excited about the final design. You can find the latest power point presentation link at the bottom of this page.
In the meantime, we are meeting with town boards and department heads to review the current plan. The Board of Health has permitted our septic system, and the Conservation Commission has approved the Order of Conditions for our construction work. The Police Chief, Fire Chief, Highway Superintendent and Town Administrator have all given feedback that has helped us refine our plan.
The new Library’s well will be a public water supply, permitted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. We are in the process of hiring a well driller and working with our well engineer from Fuss & O’Neil to complete the required testing and permitting. Thanks to our Highway Superintendent for helping with this process.
9/29/23 Update
A second public forum was held on September 26, 2023. We have added the power-point presentation to the documents at the bottom of this page. We will include the link to the YouTube recording of the event when it becomes available. Our next step is to go out for further cost estimates which we hope to have by mid-November.