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Library board may be reconstituted

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

The controversy over the building of a library on Coweta County’s east side has calmed down after the County Commission decided to dissolve the library board.

The board was put in place shortly after Coweta voters approved a special purpose local option sales tax that would allocated $6 million towards the construction of a new library near Thomas Crossroads.

But, after the board started having meetings, a difference of philosophy arose between the board and the County Commission, said county administrator Theron Gay.

“The board was committed to building a 22,000 sq. ft. facility, which is what the SPLOST would fund,” Gay said.

But, there was also word the county would receive $2 million in funds from the state for the library, so the board wanted to build a bigger facility. The board also wanted to play a key role in the hiring of personnel for the new library.

“When the board created the board, they were thinking it would focus more on helping the library with programs,” Gay added.

But with the board now dissolved, the county can move forward with building the library to the rapidly expanding eastern side of the county.

“We’re also committed to giving the Senoia and Grantville libraries $500,000 each,” said Gay.

The dissolving of the board may have led to some hurt egos, but Gay believes once the library is open, residents will be happy with the county’s plan.

He also thinks the board will be re-formed and play an active role in the the future of the library.