Time to reset on Lombard library plan

While Lombard voters, in November 2016 mind you, approved an unprecedented increase in the tax rate for the Helen Plum Library District here we are nearly a year later with no shovel ready plans, no agreements with the park district, and still with a director that clearly can't execute yet alone lead.

The library was given a tremendous opportunity to build a state of the art facility whether within the clearly known constraints of their current Maple Street site or at three nearby options (if only they would pull the trigger) at Lombard Common, 101 S. Main, or the old Z's property.

And what do they come back with now? An even more expensive two building plan connected by an outdoor walkway where the staff facility will have spectacular views of Lilacia Park and the public areas will reside mainly in a subterranean building with a patio. And yet even this plan needs variances and easements from the park district that surely will not be granted. This latest offering still fails to address contiguous parking yet alone needed approvals from the village for stormwater management, density, parking and more.

The time is now to recall and reset their tax rate as it is clear this library board and director are incapable of making this project happen. Opportunity knocked and Helen Plum repeatedly failed to answer. Never has a project with such potential been so mismanaged at the taxpayers expense.

Lombard deserves better.

Robert Biddle

Lombard