Library: Facility closer as budget concerns addressed
Construction of a new Fannin County Public Library is “a whole lot closer to realization,” Jamie Hensley said.
Hensley, chairman of the county commission, and Dustin Smisson, the new chairman of the Fannin County Library Board, met Thursday, June 27, to review recent progress on the project that has moved much slower than originally expected.
Smisson said the committee working out library details had met earlier that day and addressed ways to bring the project within budget. Members reviewed three designs submitted by the architect, TSW; a single story, one-and-a-half story, and two story.
The committee decided on the least expensive, single story, which outlined an 11,224-square-foot facility with a total project cost to $4,697,764.
Hensley has said since the project began the county is “all in” at $4 million, $2.6 of which is coming from state grants.
Smisson said TSW was told to redesign the library at 10,224 square feet as a cost saving measure.
An idea also came out of the meeting to build a metal building, which could greatly reduce the cost. Hensley and
Smisson agreed TSW should also estimate construction costs using this option.
Smisson explained the committee wants to see what the options are, and perhaps building a metal building could translate into an increase in square footage.
Working through both scenarios plays both ends against the middle to achieve the optimum result. The idea is to best serve the community. “Make it look good, come in under budget, I’m all for it,” Smisson said.
The committee will make a decision as soon as members have the information from TSW.
The county is also closer to choosing a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) to oversee the project.
Five proposals were received by the commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, June 25. Four of those will be interviewed by the county library committee July 11, and Smisson says a selection will be made that day.
That selection will then be presented to the commissioners. Hensley said the board can then make its decision on the committee’s recommendation at the July 23 meeting.
“We’re getting closer,” Hensley said.