Friday, August 29, 2003
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Friday, August 29, 2003 |
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Library commission discusses campaign for bond referendum By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Peachtree City residents are going to hear a lot more about the bond referendum for the library renovation and expansion in the coming months. The Library Commission held a public workshop Wednesday night to discuss what they needed to do to reach the voters and persuade them to vote for the bond referendum. In addition to speaking before local civic groups and organizations, the commission will be producing a pamphlet and fliers. They also discussed taking out ads in local papers and having a presence at local events such as October's Fiesta on the Plaza. If the referendum doesn't pass, it won't be because people didn't know they could go out and vote. Commission chairman Chris Clark stated at the beginning of the meeting that they were now looking at "the good, the bad and the ugly." "The good is that we have a clear architectural vision, the city's permission to have a bond referendum on the ballot and the Friends of the Library have gone through the secretary of state and can accept donations to support us and the bind referendum," said Clark. "The bad is that not everyone likes the idea and that the library staff and the Recreation Commission must stay out of the process from here on out. The ugly is that it will take money to run the campaign to pass the bond referendum." No one knows how much money it will cost to run a successful campaign but assignments were handed out. Clark also stated that the commission would have to speak in a unified voice and have all their facts straight. The major facts are these: The referendum will ask that the voters approve a referendum of no more than $4.9 million for library repair and renovation $4.7 million for the project itself and overrides and $200,000 for the cost of the bond. Over $1 million of the project will focus on repairs that need to be done no matter what, including work on the roof, a revamped heating and air conditioning system to fix humidity problems and getting up to Americans with Disability Acts standards, among others. The renovation process will include a larger children's area, sound proof study rooms, a larger A/V area, a larger adult section, new shelves, new equipment, better lighting from a more natural light source, new books, a young adult section and a reworked entrance. The project will cover all necessary expansion for 20 years, meaning, if approved, the library should not be looking to expand again until 2023. The workshop was sparsely attended by the public but one audience member, Andrea Brzoska, was very vocal in defining what she thought needed to be done. "A lot of my friends don't know what a bond referendum is or how it works," said Brzoska, who felt that a document be drawn up explaining the bond referendum process. She also told the members of the commission the concerns of her friends and neighbors. "Some people I have spoken to are afraid that the library project is being marketed as a teen center. They are also worried that city hall will look out of place next to a 'Cadillac' of libraries." Members of the commission were surprised that these thoughts were out there, especially since in several workshops the focus of the library project has been an expanded children's section and an expanded adult section. Commission member Madge Quick has heard some negative comments about the possible coffee bar, she has also heard some people describe the proposed look of the library as "the Taj Mahal or Epcot Center." "We thought people would be thrilled and enthusiastic about the project," said Quick. "Because we are offering the community so much more than what they have now." For the most part, people have been enthusiastic about the project, but are enough people enthusiastic enough to pass the referendum? Vice chairman Marie Washburn said that a majority of the plans for the project were based upon the suggestions and complaints the commission had received over the past five years, including the coffee bar which has come up in the suggestion box every year for several years. The Library Commission will meet Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. and they will be much closer to launching their campaign. Residents can expect to get a pamphlet in their mail sometime in October and chances are you will hear more before then. Commission member Barbara Chapman Swafford stated that she would even be willing to stand out on Ga. Highway 74 with a sign. As the vote gets closer, the commission may just have her do that. After all, every bit helps.
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