Walla Walla City Council rejects lone library renovation bid after costs exceed budget
By Dan Thesman on Friday, April 10th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to reject all bids for a major renovation and expansion of the Walla Walla Public Library after the sole proposal that was received far exceeded the project’s budget.
Resolution 2026-031 follows a recommendation from city staff to regroup after a single bid from Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company came in at nearly $11 million – roughly $800,000 over the city’s $10.2 million construction budget.
Library Director Heather VanTassell told the council that the current 1970s-era building no longer meets the needs of today’s community. While a pre-bid site visit in early March drew interest from over 60 individuals and 23 general contractors, only one firm submitted a formal bid by the March 25 deadline. VanTassell attributed the lack of competition to a highly competitive regional bidding environment and geopolitical uncertainties that have destabilized the construction market since the project’s estimates were first completed in January.
City Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain noted that this is not the first time the city has faced such hurdles, citing the Heritage Square project which was also re-bid after initial high costs.
The city now plans to extend the construction timeline and substitute certain building materials to lower costs before re-advertising for bids. The renovation is expected to begin in June rather than April as originally scheduled.
File photo of the Walla Walla City Council
