FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere City Council Thursday evening approved a contract with Safety & Environmental Systems for more than $86,000 to perform the rehabilitation and renovation of the Marian Fell Library.
This project to restore one of the City’s most valuable historic assets is made possible by a $50,000 matching grant through the Florida Department of State Division of Historic Resources.
The City is providing $25,000 towards the restoration matched by $25,000 through the small category grants program.
Safety & Environmental Systems was one of two firms to respond for bids and beat the other contractor by approximately 20 percent.
The other firm partnered with another company and tacked on what amounted to a 20 percent mark-up, according to city staff.
A portable storage unit will be sent to the library to be used to store various items while work is performed on the interior of the structure.
The restoration project will include the following elements: handicap parking, updated restroom, updated kitchen, fascia repair and painting of the exterior, new A/C system, refinished flooring, shelving restoration, and other elements necessary to complete the restoration process in compliance with historic preservation guidelines.
The Marian Fell Library is home to job training services provided by the Indian River State College and tutoring services for elementary school children by volunteer Connie Ward.
