By: Kara Szymanski | Shelby-Utica News | Published March 21, 2023
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Township Library reopened March 6 after an approximately two-month closure because of water damage that occurred after a building failure on Christmas Eve.
There is still work to be done at the library. Some areas might be closed for limited periods, and some services associated with the technology lab may be unavailable. At this point, there is no timetable for the library’s complete remediation.
Katie Ester, the director at the Shelby Township Library, said she was moved by the support shown to the library after the water damage.
“We never pictured our new Library filled with fans and dehumidifiers and weeks of tradesmen working tirelessly to restore our beautiful building to normalcy,” Ester said via email. “Through the ensuing restoration though, I was continually touched by the grace and support from our township leadership, our library staff and most importantly, from our community. From the very first day that we announced the damage, offers of help rolled in from scout troops, residents, library volunteers, library board members and township trustees. Folks were ready to roll up their sleeves, grab a mop and get to work. When the library re-opened for curbside service, residents hand-delivered treats for our staff and stood outside our doors in the bitter cold to offer consolation and encouragement. That generosity of spirit and support is what will stay with me after the building is fully repaired.”
The water damage occurred after the building lost power and temperatures dropped well below freezing.
“This loss of power shut off the rooftop units, which supply power for the boiler. The rooftop units tried to restart automatically but could not with no power. While the power was out, the temperature dropped dramatically and quickly into the single digits. This temperature drop caused water in the boiler pipes to freeze and burst. An independent investigation by the township’s insurance carrier found no fault with our (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, its installation or the inspection process. It was a perfect storm of events,” Ester said in a prepared statement.
Shelby Township Community Relations Director Brad D. Bates explained a little more about who conducted the investigation.
“This investigation included specialists focused on HVAC, building technology and interiors. It found no fault with the building’s design, HVAC system, installation or inspection process,” Bates said via email.
Bates shed light on how the township will avoid a similar occurrence from happening, should another power outage occur amid very cold temperatures.
“The library is installing sensors to alert township staff if the library loses power. Once alerted, township staff will take necessary actions to secure the building and its property until the power outage ends. Additionally, contractors replaced all damaged HVAC components as part of the remediation process,” he said.
Other remediation work involved replacing all electrical outlets, floor boxes and light switches. Drywall was repaired and replaced, vinyl base trim was replaced and walls were repainted or had new wall paper hung. The carpet was cleaned.
The most significant damage occurred in employee offices, small meeting rooms and the technology lab. New computers have been purchased to replace those that were damaged.
The library said that there was no damage to any items in the library’s collection.
All library contents and property was fully insured, the township said, meaning that “there is no financial burden to taxpayers beyond the deductible.”
If patrons or residents have questions regarding what is open and available daily, library staff is available by phone at (586) 739-7414 or by email at shelbylib@libcoop.net for assistance.