The long-planned children’s porch for the new Pocomoke Library hit a setback Tuesday as the Worcester County Commissioners declined to fund the requested county contribution, citing cost concerns and urging project leaders to revisit the estimate.
Library Director Jennifer Ranck appeared before the commissioners on November 4, requesting $74,895 to close the funding gap for the covered outdoor porch. She said the Library Foundation has already raised about $35,000, but recent cost estimates came in at “just under $110,000.”
Ranck explained that the porch was part of the original design but was cut last year to keep the overall library construction within budget. “The latest schedule shows substantial completion in April 2026, and we hope to be open by June,” she said. The State of Maryland has contributed just under $4 million toward construction and another $275,000 for furnishings and equipment.
Commissioners, while supportive of the library, questioned the price.
Commissioner Mitrecic, who is a builder by trade, was first to raise concerns after reviewing the cost breakdown. “If you square it off, it’s 412 square feet, and that comes out to $266 a square foot for a deck and roof,” he said. “They’re building houses for that.”
Mitrecic also pointed to line items in the bid that seemed excessive, including $57,600 for rafters, and questioned design inconsistencies between the drawings and the estimate.
Commissioner Chip Bertino agreed the cost appeared high compared to similar library projects elsewhere in the county. “The Friends of the Ocean Pines Library paid for their outdoor learning area, it looks very nice, but it wasn’t covered and it wasn’t borne by the taxpayers,” he said. “Why can’t you go down the same path as Ocean Pines?”
Ranck replied that her team had “personally met with numerous businesses in the Pocomoke area” to seek donations but had little success. “We’re at the mercy of a contractor we did not choose,” she said, adding that the library hoped to move forward while trades were still on site to keep costs down.
Commissioner Eric Fiori proposed a compromise—prepare the site now, but delay the build. “Have the builder quote you on a price for a later build-out,” he suggested. “Have all your tie-ins ready so when you’re ready financially, you can build that out.”
Others echoed his suggestion, urging the library to hold off on construction until the costs can be reduced or additional funds raised.
Despite widespread support for the porch concept, no motion was made, leaving the request without action. The matter is expected to return for future discussion once new estimates are available.
Ranck and Carol Rose, president of the Library Foundation, attended on behalf of the project. The new Pocomoke Library, currently under construction, is projected to open summer 2026.
