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Library site purchased for Ruch construction By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Jackson County moved one step closer to building a new branch library in Ruch when it bought a chunk of land at a rock-bottom price. The board of commissioners bought three acres of property on Highway 238 across from Applegate Christian Fellowship. The county purchased the parcel Wednesday from the Jackson County Library Foundation. Commissioners agreed to pay $125,382 for land that cost the library foundation $197,000 last year. According to County Administrator Sue Slack, the county's payment will reimburse the library foundation for various tests conducted on the site's well and septic systems. The library foundation used a Ford Foundation grant to offset the property's costs. The grant was secured by the Friends of the Ruch Library, which also collected private donations and held book, bake and rummage sales. More than $100,000 was collected from several dozen local contributors. The community will use the money raised to create a meeting room big enough for 80 people. "For such a small rural community, they've done an excellent job," said Commissioner Sue Kupillas. Regional branch manager Margaret Jakubcin said construction plans are nearly complete, and she expects the project to go to bid in the next month or two. "I believe it's about a seven month construction project," she said. "We can hardly wait to get in there." The Ruch Library currently occupies 2,250 square feet in a basement in the Sunshine Plaza shopping center. The new 5,800-square-foot building will be surrounded by native landscaping and walking paths that connect to nearby Ruch Elementary School. Jackson County voters approved a $39 million library bond last year to build a new library in Medford plus new or remodeled branches in Ruch, Jacksonville, Applegate, Rogue River, Eagle Point, Shady Cove, Prospect, Butte Falls, Central Point, Gold Hill, Phoenix, Talent and Ashland. Ruch's share of the pie is about $1.37 million. There are four structures on the proposed Ruch branch site, and Slack said two will be demolished before construction begins on the new library. An A-frame house at the site will be used by the Friends of the Ruch library. The county will also retain a fairly new structure that serves as both a garage and shop. Tentative plans call for the garage to be remodeled into a meeting area through private funds. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.