City Council discusses library, swimming pool

The Orland Library Commission will retain Commissioner Gene Russell and gain a new member.

Russell and Kathleen Claire were appointed to the body Tuesday by the City Council for terms running through Dec. 31, 2014.

"The library is the most important building in town," Claire said following her appointment.

She replaces Patricia Mullanix whose term expired Dec. 31.

Claire moved to Orland in 2012. She is retired and volunteered at the Oakhurst Public Library for seven years prior to coming to Orland.

"I feel a public library is the city's greatest asset," Claire wrote in her application. "Keeping up with all the newest technology will be the biggest challenge facing any public office."

Russell is a retired educator who is known as a local historian having written several books on Orland's history.

He also belongs to the Friends of the Orland Free Library group and Orland Historical and Cultural Society along with the Orland Alumni Association.

Russell said his goal is to continue the projects started by the commission such as the library's expansion and to give back to the library for services rendered in the past.

"(I can) offer creative ideas from visits to numerous libraries," Russelll wrote in his application.

In other business:

• City Manager Peter Carr updated the City Council on a presentation he made to the Orland Unified School District about the its participation in remodeling and upgrading the city's swimming pool, which is located near the Orland High School campus.

Orland wants to replace the gutters around the pool, expand its deck and replace the filtering system among other improvements. The goal is to have bigger swim meets there and allow the high school to have physical education classes at the pool.

It is seeking about $250,000 from the school district to complete the project expected to cost about $400,000 to $500,000.

"We got a warm response," Carr said.

They directed Superintendent Chris von Kleist to "pull a rabbit out of his hat" for funding, Carr added, and von Kliest identified three to four potential sources.

If things can proceed, the city may have a new pool by the summer, Carr said.

The city and district could also host a special joint-board meeting to finalize any project, Carr said.

• Carr said the city has received some bids ranging from $134,000 to $245,000 for the library expansion project.

The library wants to add a modular conference room along with remodeling a staff room and adding new restrooms to the building built in the 1970s.

Carr plans to bring this back at the Feb. 4 council meeting for more discussion and possible action.