Dubuque County Supervisors Vote to Give $2.9 Million Towards New Farley Library

Access to library resources may get easier for the City Farley and other Dubuque county residents based on a recent vote of the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors.

The City of Farley submitted the funding request to the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors. The affirmative vote earmarks $2.9 million of the county’s nearly $19 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to construct a new library in Farley.

The new library is a positive development for the Farley community and area residents. The library branch at Drexler Middle School closed nearly a year ago when the Western Dubuque School board decided to withdraw from a previous agreement. Leaving the City with temporary service twice per week from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Farley Municipal Building.

The majority of the Supervisors favored the decision citing unprecedented circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and the available funds. The building of a new library will have a lasting impact and reap tremendous ongoing benefits for years and generations to come.

However, concerns were raised that the City of Farley may be unfairly benefiting while other communities miss out. The City of Cascade will also be submitting an application seeking $1 million for a new library branch. Other communities have pursued funding requests for projects important to their specific concerns in the past and will have future opportunities.

In Dubuque County, Asbury, Epworth, Holy Cross, Peosta, and Farley have branches of the County Library District. Those services are used by rural residents of the cities and unincorporated areas of Dubuque County.

The $2.9 million requested will cover much of the building expense. However, the remainder of the  $3.5 million construction cost will be the responsibility of the City of Farley.