Council approves $772K roof replacement at Newton library

Replacing the leaking, 30-year-old roof at Newton Public Library will cost more than $772,000. Council members on Dec. 19 approved the apparent low bid from Hopkins Roofing, of Pella, which included two alternate bids for a longer warranty and additional soffits for $20,000 and $256,000, but they were not accepted.

With the base bid approved by both the library board and the city council, the project is a-go. Replacing the roof was one of the city council’s goals for 2022-2024. Newton Library Director Nicole Terry described the roof troubles at an August city council meeting, which date back to its initial construction.

Water damages to the circulation office, the director’s office and the children’s library have occurred over the years. Of course leaks sprung up after the first thaw of springtime, but winter also proved to be just as cumbersome with ice jams. Even now a new leak has emerged over the 20,000-square-foot building.

According to council documents, the architectural firm Studio Melee conducted a facility assessment report of the library in 2019. It was then determined the roof is at the end of its useful life and needs replaced. In 2022, the library hired the firm once again to design and release bid documents to replace the roof.

Three bids were received by the library. In addition to winning bidder Hopkins Roofing, contractors Modern Builders and For Sure Roofing presented bids. Modern Builders bid $961,600 with $11,000 for the second alternate bid. For Sure Roofing bid $1,022,211 with $219,775 and $52,740 for the alternate bids.

Newton News previously reported that Curtis Ehler, owner of Studio Melee, told council members in August that the firm looked at several different roofing options, including shingles, metal and a single-ply membrane. However, the cost of these materials have increased considerably, with some up 35 percent.

“We went through those three different options with the library board in March of this year,” Ehler said, noting the board decided a metal roof was still the best option. “…Most of the issues that were related to this one we believe are primarily based on the manufacturer at the time.”

Depending on the manufacturer used for the replacement, prices could fluctuate. Ehler estimated at the time the project could cost $700,000 to $900,000.

“We do recommend replacement,” he said. “It’s old. We think there were certain areas where they weren’t detailed properly.”

When city council members voted to award the contract to Hopkins Roofing, Newton Mayor Mike Hansen said he hoped the library would get a good roof “for many, many, many, many years.” Although the $772,815 price tag is high, the city is only devoting $200,000 general fund bonds to the project.

City administrator Matt Muckler previously told Newton News donations from the Diehl Estate allowed for even more funding to be available for the project.

The estate provided about $500,000 to go towards the design and construction of the new roof.