After numerous years of a leaky roof threatening to damage books inside the Addison Township Public Library, the township is now seeking bids to remove and replace the existing roof.
Michele Presley, director of the library, said the leaking on the west side of the small building has been occurring for at least five years and that patch jobs done in the past are useless now.
In a letter written in November of last year to the township, Presley stated she took it upon herself to hire a company to clean the roof of debris and patch 58 holes that were discovered, costing them $936.25 out of the library funds.
‘I just got fed up,? Presley said. ‘It needed to be done.?
During last year’s inspection of the roof it was determined that none of the previous roofs had been removed and were ‘completely saturated with water.?
Presley said the leaking problem tends to occur in the same area and after thaws from warmer temperatures.
‘I’m sure there are other places that it’s coming in, but the ceiling tiles absorb it,? she said. ‘It’s acting like a sponge up there because it’s never (leaking) when it’s raining.?
The library hasn’t seen much damage to the books because employees have ‘been on top? of the situation, covering books with paint cloths and duct tape when the leaking begins.
A few years ago, however, Presley said the library could’ve seen enormous damage after the leaking caused waterlogged ceiling tiles to fall over their computers. Luckily a cleaning crew found the accident in time to prevent any serious damage.
‘It’s just a nuisance,? she said.
Based on talks with other roofing companies, Presley said the roof could be removed and repaired during the winter months and take two days to finish.
It hasn’t been decided who will foot the bill for the roof, but Presley said the township is ‘techinically responsible for the bill? because it is outside structural repair to a township building.
Presley said she can’t stress enough how important it is for the roof to be fixed so they won’t have anymore water damage to the building.
‘I don’t even want to think about what’s growing in the roof,? she said.