The Madison County Library expansion project is moving forward. And a construction groundbreaking is set for 11 a.m., March 17, at the library.
Salloum Construction Company of Athens has been hired to expand the library. And county commissioners voted Monday to provide the sales tax money voters approved in 2008 for the project.
The expansion project will increase the library’s size from 10,000 to 17,500 square feet. The library now holds 32,226 books, audio and visual materials. The expansion will give the facility a 100,000 capacity for such materials.
Madison County received a $1.5 million grant from the state government for the project last year. County voters also tagged over $560,000 in sales tax funding for the library expansion when the county government’s special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) was approved in 2008. This SPLOST is separate from the one for education voters will consider March 15.
The construction bid was for $1,599,600, but the BOC learned Monday that $80,000 was shaved off that bid recently. They also learned from library board officials $20,000 from the Jerry Ayers estate will also be used for the project.
Madison County resident Jim Warren addressed commissioners Monday over his concerns regarding the expansion plans. He said he had reviewed the plans.
“It seems to be an adoption of the present appearance and construction using ‘chicken house’ trusses on a 2X4 frame wall, clad with jumbo brick veneer which is tied to that wood wall and is unstable,” said Warren.
Warren also said the expansion plans are not energy efficient. He said heat and air should not come from the ceiling but the floor.
“There is neither addition of fresh air pickup for breathing nor any control of relative humidity,” said Warren. “The present architects, as well as the original, seem unaware of the sun.”
The commissioners did not respond to Warren’s comments.
On the bright side, such a project will employ a good number of people in an industry hard hit by this recession - construction. They, in turn, will be able to buy stuff which will stimulate our local economy and help others who may be struggling. This will help our area now and in the future when computer technology will have a much larger presence at our library.