The Clearwater City Council Monday agreed to take the next steps to get a handicap accessible door installed at the Clearwater Library.

Library Manager Cyrene Bastien approached the council about the issue, which had been discussed a number of times at Clearwater Area Friends of the Library meetings. At those meetings, Bastien said it’s difficult for anyone in a wheelchair to enter the library with help from someone else. 

There had been talk of installing a doorbell for a person in a wheelchair to ring for assistance, or modifying he existing door.

Monday, Bastien said the goal was to try to replace the whole entryway with a handicap accessible door. She said the landlord presented a quote in April for the hardware to modify one of the two existing doors.

“To me that’s a bandaid approach,” she said. “The two doors open he same way. They’re very old. One door closer has been replaced and one is failing.”

She said a single door would meet the needs of all the patrons. And it would save energy because the old ones leak.

“We are looking for assistance on providing this door,” she told members of the council.

The building is owned by Greg Beuning, owner of the Clearwater Truck Center. The City of Clearwater leases the building for the library.

Mayor Andrea Lawrence asked what the lease requires to install a door.

“The lease says for alterations, the city has to get approval from the landlord,” said Administrator Kevin Kress. “We haven’t approached him yet because we wanted to see what the council’s initial response was to it.”

Kress estimated the cost would be under $10,000 and possibly under $5,000.

“Basically, we need to know if the council is interested in making that improvement to the structure,” he said, “knowing that if the library ceases to operate over there that the property becomes the landlord’s.”

Councilman Vern Scott thought it was a good idea to install pedestal switch for a handicap door because people in a wheelchair couldn’t reach the door.

Kress said the city could also approach the landlord and ask if he would be willing to cover half the cost or part of the cost, knowing it would benefit his building.

“Whether he does or not it’s up to the council,” he said. “It depends on how you want me to negotiate and move forward with this proposal.”

Councilman Kris Crandall said he thought the city should just do it.

Scott wanted to see the numbers first.

“Let’s get a few prices and bring it to him (the landlord) and see,” he said.

Kress said he would get some bids and bring it back to the council.