The library is considering partnering with the city to build a new library. 

At Tuesday’s meeting, Board President Kenny Massey said the library board has been in conversation with the city for several months discussing the idea of creating a joint building, housing both City Hall and a public library. 

“They need a new City Hall. We need a new library,” Massey said.

Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel said Wednesday that this project would benefit both the library and the city. 

“We recognize that it’s a good opportunity and would be a worthwhile project, if, you know, both of our needs can align,” Daniel said in an interview Wednesday morning. 

Daniel said the good thing about the project is it would be less of a cost to taxpayers. 

“If the taxpayers are paying for one combined facility, then there’s some potential savings there versus paying for two separate facilities,” he said. 

If they were to follow through with the idea, the new library and City Hall will likely be located on the empty land next to the public safety office.

“It’s a good location, as it relates to our downtown,” Daniel said. “So it would offer a lot of conveniences if we were to go that route.”

However, the city and library would still need to figure out the building’s sizing needs before deciding on that space. 

The library board has not decided if they want to partner with the city for the project. Massey suggested scheduling a special meeting to further discuss how they want to move forward. 

“We need to set up a special meeting that works for everyone and start having some serious discussions about where, how and when we want to move forward or rejuvenate the process for a new library,” Massey said. 

The special meeting would be held by the end of November, Massey said. 

“There’s a lot of work to be done, a lot. So we as a board need to decide which way we want to go,” he said. 

Board member Mike Keltner asked if collaborating with the city would be more beneficial to the library’s chances of getting a new building. 

Massey said more research needs to be done before they would know the answer. 

In other business, the board is looking to hire someone to trim trees and bushes around the library. 

Massey said he’s noticed limbs hanging over the sidewalk, as well as bushes and trees covering an electrical outlet on the outside of the library. 

“We could sure trim that dead stuff off and at least make it look a little more attractive and less dangerous,” he said. 

Massey said he will work to find a landscaping professional to do the work and see how much it would cost before bringing it back to the board. 

In other business, the board decided to begin putting the agendas, minutes and director’s reports from each meeting on the library’s website. Wohlford said she will talk to staff next week about starting that process.

Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected] 

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