Orange County NC Website
sv.s <br />of the County, and to supplement the Chapel Hill library with a bookmobile. <br />Mr. Osterman stated that the Chapel Hill library was an overused <br />facility and there was difficulty in finding parking space in Chapel Hill. <br />He stated that before Commissioner Willhoit came on th Soard of Cammis- <br />sianers, the Library Board justified the need for a new library, and <br />there was much support for a new library. He added that he just did not <br />feel it was necessary for the Library Board to do this all over again. <br />Commissioner Willhoit stated that when he came on the Board of <br />Commissioners he was presented with a document which proposed a means <br />to meet the library's needs. That all he had heard tonight was dis- <br />cussion that this proposal of Mr. Nassif was not adequate. He stated <br />that he had no information regarding the source of the figures quoted <br />(two books per capita or for the figure of .6 square foot per capita). <br />He added that if the Library Berard was trying to convince him of the <br />need, he would like to see something in black and white. <br />• Mr. Davison stated that he would see that this information is pro- <br />vided to Commissioner Willhoit. <br />Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he felt the Board had responded <br />to the Library Board's concerns which were express aver the years. This <br />was the reason for the facility study and the long range program. The <br />library is a component part of all this, and the County was trying to <br />utilize in the best possible way the scarce resources which are available. <br />He stated, that the library's close proximity to the Recreatien Department <br />could became a place where people could .come for a variety of recreation, <br />not just in the sense of basketball, etc., but could be an ideal situation, <br />for these two facilities to coordinate, cooperate and co-sponsor programs. <br />The third element, Mr. Gustaveson spoke of concerning the library was the <br />possible extension to the back of the main floor level to handle future <br />programs for the library. <br />Chairman Whitted asked what is the cost other libraries are being <br />built at this time. <br />Discussion ensued concerning the cost per square foot, for building <br />a library within the next five years. <br />Mr. Nassif stated that a fair estimate would be about $40.00 per <br />square foot. Cost could be estimated as between 1.1 and 1.7 million <br />dollars. <br />Mr. Whitted pointed out some of the considerations discussed when <br />the decision was made to renovate the Grady Brown. One issue was the <br />economic consideration of how much resources were available and how <br />much could be committed to capital expansion in the County. He stated <br />that the study Mr. Nassif presented to the Board put the Commissioners in <br />a range where they felt a lot could be accomplished within a short period <br />of time, based on the original projection of construction of a new jail, <br />providing space for the library and relieving the overcrowdedness in the <br />Courthouse. He stated that he still felt this was the plan to accomplish <br />all of this. If there are overriding considerations that makes it <br />impassible for the library to use the Grady Brown, there is no need to <br />have a facility which cannot be used. The Chairman added that he was <br />not convinced that the library at Grady Brown would not be an inviting <br />facility. He added that he would hate to spend monies and not have a <br />first rate facility. <br />Discussion ensued concerning a possible bond issue in the next three <br />to five years for the construction of a library. <br />- Mr. Davison stated that he was still in fear and trembling of the <br />move to Grady Brown, that he would prefer, if possible, to foresee within <br />a five year period a move toward a more adequate building. That the <br />Library Board would much prefer to stay where they are. He added that <br />if the Board foresaw no possiblity of providing the Library"s physical <br />need within this five year period, then the Library will be forced to <br />move to the Grady Brown Complex. He emphasized again that the Library <br />Board did not feel this was an adeugate facility, and that it did not <br />meet the needs of Orange County citizens. <br />Mr. Nassif informed the Board that he was getting behind an the <br />design of Grady Brown, due to the Library decision which had to be <br />settled and the Health Department matter that had just recently been <br />