Library to get a new roof

The Williston Community Library is getting a new “lid.” Williston City Commissioners Tuesday awarded the roofing job to Thiel Brothers Roofing of Sidney for the low bid of $110,000.

Librarian Deb Slais later said the work is long overdue for the 25-year-old building. She said roofs are only guaranteed to last about 15 years.

“The meeting roof ceiling tiles fell in during one of our last rain storms,” she said. “That’s when I knew we had to get it done. We have been fixing it for several years. We‘ve already put in thousands of repairs. We have been fixing leaks and stuff for the last 10.”

Slais said she has repeatedly made repair requests to the City Budget Committee in recent years.

“They told me to wait. I couldn’t wait any longer...The roof fell in,” she said.

The new roof is needed so the contents of the building is protected. she said.

“We have many dollars invested in books, computer equipment and other things. We have to have a good roof on the building” Slais said.

“You have a couple of options, but to ignore it is not an option,” said Williston City Auditor John Kautzman during the discussion phase on the three bids that were presented.

Slais told commissioners she was comfortable with the low bidder doing the work because that company was familiar with the structure’s problems.

Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl made a motion that the project could initially be paid for by financing it through the building fund and then assessing it to the Williston Budget Committee later. The commission accepted.

Slais expects the work to begin this fall.