WALBRIDGE — The Walbridge Branch of the Wood County Library System may be seeing an expansion in the near future, but it is up to the village council.

Mayor Ed Kolanko wants the village to donate land just north of the library so it can expand.

The library is about 4,000 square feet. The donation and addition would double its size, allowing more programming. The lot the village would give is less than one-fifth of an acre, along with the alley space.

First, Mr. Kolanko is presenting an ordinance to vacate an alley next to the library. 

During the second reading of the ordinance last week the council heard some opposition.

Tamra Williams, who lives off the alley that runs parallel between Union and Perry streets, is against cutting off the alley from Main Street.

“You can’t turn around in that alley, we have poles up because people already hit our garages,” she said after the meeting Wednesday.

She asked the mayor if snowplowing would continue, and said losing the alley would be a key loss for those homeowners.

Mr. Kolanko insisted plowing would still be handled, and said the rest of the alley will still be available to leave the opposite way. He is excited about the possibilities of a library expansion.

“I think they do a lot of good for the community,” he said. “They are good for children, senior citizens, and a good thing for Walbridge.”

Some residents asked why it couldn’t be expanded on the south and add a parking lot north of the library. Currently, parking is available south of the library. Mr. Kolanko said taking away parking from south and moving it north wouldn’t add parking. He also said it would be expensive, with bids about $85,000.

“People don’t stop in that alley, I don’t like that,” he said during Wednesday’s meeting. “It’s not a problem until it is. I think the reasonings are valid. We’ll see if council agrees.”

The first step for council is to approve vacating the alley. If it does so during a later July meeting, then the mayor will introduce another ordinance to donate the land.

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.

First Published July 6, 2015, 4:00 a.m.