The Homer City Council passed an ordinance during their regular meeting Monday to accept and appropriate grant funding for the installation of a security grille at the Homer Public Library.

Ordinance 25-65 accepts a $19,000 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation for the grille. This additional security measure would allow the library to keep their meeting room open outside of regular operating hours, enhancing its usability, without placing additional burden on library staff to stay after hours while the room is in use.

The architects for the current library building envisioned installing a security grille between the meeting room and the main floor, an Oct. 17 memorandum from library director Dave Berry says.

The city council previously appropriated $30,000 for the grille installation in June 2024. All design and permitting work for the project was completed in May. According to the memo, city staff then applied for grant funding to provide the remaining balance needed to complete the project. Berry wrote that the Rasmuson grant, which does not require a local match, is “sufficient to fully fund” the project according to cost estimates provided in February.

Any cost overruns, he wrote, would have to come from a different source.

According to a timeline provided in the memo, the next step to invite bids for the construction contract is tentatively scheduled for the end of November. Fabrication and delivery of materials is currently slated to occur February through April. Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of May 2026.

Find Ordinance 25-65 and supplemental materials in full at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citycouncil/city-council-regular-meeting-346.