Tension filled the commissioner’s conference room Thursday, January 16, as Fannin County Library Board members expressed mixed feelings and concerns about the possibility of a new public library.
Library Board Vice Chairman Ron Bolin vocalized that he was not pleased to have been left in the dark about the decision. He said he was not aware of the decision to move the library into the Whitepath building until folks began calling him after they had seen House Speaker David Ralston’s announcement on Facebook.
“That’s what’s so disturbing to me is that I felt left out of any decision because there it was,” said Board Member Patti Hampton.
Mountain Regional System Interim Director Claudia Gibson said she was also blindsided by the recounts, but the “money is not there until the state legislatures say, ‘Yes, you give us $580,’ I believe it was, ‘and we’ll give you 1.3 million,’ and the governor has to sign off.”
Mountain Regional Library System Business Manager Vicki Adkiso corrected Gibson by saying the county must come up with $580,000 not $580.
“Where does this money come from?” Bolin asked. "Because the commissioners just recently passed their budget, and, according to what was in the newspapers, their budget, they’re already close to $700,000 in the hole.”
Board member John Turner said, “The supplemental budget will be voted on late January early February, not at the end of the session, and stuff can get put in there and this, it sounds like, that’s where this (money) is (coming from).”
Bolin went on to ask what prevents the county from eventually moving the library back out of the building. To which Gibson said that question would have to be answered by Fannin County Commission Chairman Stan Helton.
Bolin said he felt as though the county is sending an implied message of “You (residents) are not worthy or deserving of a stand alone library.”
Gibson added that the board has the authority to vote on whether or not to move forward with the project, but the ultimate decision will depend upon the Regional Board members.
To bring clarity to the concerned members, Gibson said “the grant was applied for years ago and was put on the list because the grant was never withdrawn.”
Member Nick Wimberly refuted other members by saying, “We’ve said two or three times that the grant was for a stand alone library and that’s not correct. Because from day one, when we were talking about the college (University of North Georgia), it was to adjoin with that college.”
Chairman Gordon Riddoch added, “I think that’s an important point, it was never going to be its own building ... I think this is as close to a stand alone library as we’ll ever get.”
As far as how large the new library may be, Riddoch said that Helton has been waiting on the board to tell him what they recommend.
The size of the library will ultimately be dependent on state standards. Gibson said it must adhere to .6 square foot per capita and size must be projected for the next 20 years.
In addition, she said that the loan should only be used toward the library as invoices must be very detailed and the state will monitor it all very closely.
“This is Fannin County, who has never supported the library,” Secretary Kate VanOrsdal added, “The fact that they have gone to this much trouble to at least try, I’m willing to go (to the new location).”
Some members went on to say that the location will be basically its own with better parking, more space, and the offices will offer security for the library.
A called Board of Commissioners meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, January 23, to discuss the grant.