02 01 08
Board Predicts 14-Cent Levy for Library Bond Issue
Published: Friday, February 1, 2008 Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune

The tax levy for the bond issue that would fund an extensive $3.4 million renovation project at the Livingston County Library was predicted yesterday (Thursday) by the Livingston County Library Board of Trustees. The tax levy for the renovation is projected to be about $0.14 per $100 valuation. These figures are based on current interest rates for a 20-year bond. “A person who owns a home valued at $100,000 would pay approximately $26 a year for these improvements,” Robin Westphal, library director explained.

In January, the Livingston County Library Board approved a resolution calling for a bond election for the library renovation. The bond issue will be placed on the April 8 ballot. The vote would need 4/7 (57 percent) approval to pass.

The bond question gives broad authorization for the board to direct funds toward the payment of renovating, repairing, improving and equipping the existing Livingston County Library.Infrastructure improvements include new plumbing, upgrades to the electrical system and HVAC units to heat and cool the whole building. Also included in the renovations are measures to improve the functionality of the building including restoring restroom facilities on the second and third floor, improving the teen area and increasing the availability of independent study area.

The Livingston County Library is supported by a current property tax levy of 26.73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. A small amount of funding comes from the State of Missouri. Donations from the Friends of the Library and individuals also assist in the funding of the Library.

In 2006, an architectural firm completed a feasibility study which showed that renovations could be made on the current library building. During the review of the library¹s structural issues, ATA Architects found that the building is sound and worth saving and that it was valued at $2 million.

At that time, the Livingston County Library Board of Trustees made the decision to make renovations to the building.If passed by voters in April, renovation would likely begin in late summer, Westphal reported.

The Livingston County Board of Trustees are: Linda Beetsma, president; Dale Wallace, vice president; Karen Nichols, treasurer; Marion Harter, secretary; and Inger Young, board member.

01 18 08
Library question to be placed on April 8 ballot
Published: Friday, January 18, 2008 3:37 PM CST Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune

A bond issue that would fund an extensive $3.4 million renovation project at the Livingston County Library will be placed on the April 8 ballot.

The Livingston County Library Board of Trustees met yesterday (Thursday) during a special meeting at the library and unanimously approved the resolution calling for a bond election.

Just prior to the unanimous vote, Dale Wallace, vice president, commented that the idea of renovating the historic building is not a new one.

“This has been a topic of discussion ever since I came on the board six years ago,” Wallace noted. He added that when the board hired director Robin Westphal two years ago, the board charged her with the task of proceeding with the idea of possible renovations to the building.

Renovating the historic building, Wallace says, is long overdue. In fact, aside from some cosmetic changes to the library in the past few years, an extensive renovation project improving its infrastructure - i.e. the plumbing and wiring, has never been done.

“And that's where all the major problems are,” Wallace said.

Meeting with the board were attorney Toni I. Stegeman, with Gilmore & Bell, PC, Kansas City, Mo.; and Michael L. Hartmann, vice president of Commerce Bank, Columbia, Mo.

Prior to the resolution vote, Stegeman and the board examined the language involved with the bond question and Hartmann advised the panel on bonding issues.

The question gives broad authorization for the board to direct funds toward the payment of renovating, repairing, improving and equipping the existing Livingston County Library. Those practices would include extensive plumbing and electrical improvements, installation of central heating and air, technology improvements, renovations and restorations providing public meeting rooms, restrooms and administrative space, other improvements required for safety and handicapped accessibility, enabling full use of all levels of the building.

01 16 08
Library board considering levy to renovate building
Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:58 PM CST Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune

The Livingston County Library Board will meet in a special meeting tomorrow (Thursday) to vote on a resolution calling for a bond election for the renovation of the library.

According to Robin Westphal, library director, the bond issue would cover renovation of the library including repairing infrastructure such as plumbing, heating and cooling and wiring.

“Those are the main components of the renovation,” Westphal said, adding that if passed, there would also likely be cosmetic changes and updating at the library.

If the Livingston County Library Board passes the resolution for the bond election, the issue would be placed on the April ballot for approval by the voters. The vote would need 4/7 (57 percent) approval to pass.

The current levy for the library is 0.2673. The renovations would be paid for through an additional levy, with a 15 to 20 year bond.

01 11 08
Fewer sites available this year to obtain paper tax forms
Published: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:48 PM CST Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
Increases in the number of home computers and public access to the Internet have impacted what has been considered tradition and this year, Uncle Sam is continuing to make adjustments in accordance with a greater demand for online services.

While taxpayers have been able to obtain federal tax forms via the Internet for the last several years the government agency has traditionally made forms available at several locations within Chillicothe. This year, however, there is only one site - the Livingston County Library - at least so far that has some of the more common tax return forms available.

The federal forms arrived on Monday; however, none were delivered to the courthouse or the post office which traditionally have been pickup sites.

“More and more people are filing electronically,” said Michael Devine, a spokesman for the IRS in St. Louis, noting that the number of locations where the paper forms are available has dropped in general as paper filing has declined.

As the popularity of electronic filing soars, the number of paper returns from Kansas and Missouri has dropped 10 percent since 2004, the IRS says. This year, an estimated 60 percent or 1,583,000 Missouri returns will be e-filed.

Taxpayers can file their returns electronically one of three ways: through their tax preparer; through over-the-counter software; or through IRS Free File. The IRS will start accepting electronically-filed forms on Friday.

Devine said that electronic returns are less likely to contain errors as opposed to paper returns and that paper returns have around a 20 percent error rate, especially when completed close to the tax filing deadline.

“Electronic returns have less than a 1 percent error rate,” Devine said. “They are faster, more accurate and secure.”

Devine also noted that if returns are filed electronically and the taxpayer chooses to have refunds deposited directly into a bank account, deposits can be made in as few as 10 days whereas if filing by mail, refunds can take four to six weeks.

10 01 07
Missouri Photo Workshop
A steady stream of people flowed through the old courtroom on the second floor of the Livingston County Library Saturday to view more than 400 photographs of Chillicothe's people and places. The photographs represented the culmination of a week-long Missouri Photo Workshop which is a part of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Each of the 40 photo stories may be found on the internet at www.mophotoworkshop.org. For more information, click here.

08 28 07
Library Gets Grant for Seniors Programs
The library has received a grant from the Missouri State Library Discoveries: Programs for Seniors in the amount of $1,777.72 to be used for four different programs focusing on basic computer use for seniors. Four classes will meet weekly beginning September 10, 2007. Those interested are urged to contact the library to register.