Casey Library to Seek Third Bid for A/C Replacement; Friends of the Library Will Not Assist with Cost

Casey Township Library Board of Trustees Meeting | August 7, 2025

Article Summary: The Casey Township Library Board is seeking a third bid for a critical air conditioner replacement after reviewing two initial proposals. Friends of the Library President Tom Daughhetee announced the volunteer group will not help fund the project, and the board plans an expedited “texting” vote once a final bid is chosen due to the urgency of the situation.

Casey Township Library A/C Replacement Key Points:

• Bids for the A/C replacement were received from two local businesses, Pershio and Remlinger, while a third did not respond.

• The board unanimously agreed to solicit another bid from a third party before making a final decision.

• To expedite the repair, the board will hold a “texting” vote to approve the chosen bid.

• The Friends of the Library organization has stated it will not contribute financially to the cost of the new A/C unit.

The Casey Township Library Board of Trustees on Thursday, August 7, 2025, moved cautiously forward on replacing its failed air conditioning system, deciding to seek an additional bid while also learning that a key fundraising group will not be assisting with the cost.

Librarian Gretchen Murphy reported that bids for the necessary replacement were sent to three locally owned businesses. The library received responses from Pershio and Remlinger, but a third business, Maschoff, was non-responsive. After reviewing the two submitted proposals, the board reached a unanimous decision to get another bid from a different third party to ensure due diligence on the significant expense.

Given the urgency of replacing the unit, the board agreed to an unconventional approval process. Once the third bid is received and reviewed, a vote will be conducted via text message to approve the final contract. This will allow the library to move forward with the vital repair without having to wait for the next scheduled board meeting in September.

In a significant development, Friends of the Library President Tom Daughhetee informed the board that the volunteer organization will not assist with the cost of replacing the air conditioner. The group, which often provides financial support for library projects and programming, has determined that this capital expense falls outside the scope of its funding.

Daughhetee also announced that the Friends of the Library’s Marketing Committee will convene for a meeting in September at a time when all committee members are able to attend.

The meeting was attended by President Susie Mathews, Secretary Karen Bradford, trustees Sharon Durham, Shawn Huisinga, Chrissy Squires, and Doug Stoutin, as well as Librarian Gretchen Murphy and Tom Daughhetee.