Some huge changes are underway at Cannon County’s library. Members of the Cannon County Board of Commissioners were told about a 1.5 million dollar renovation and addition which will be taking place at the Adams’ Memorial Library over the next several years. Library Board member Austin Jennings told the Commission at a special call meeting on Saturday that the current library, which is almost 50 years old, is going to be renovated and expanded with an additional 10,000 square feet. Some of the highlights of the project will include:
-Larger reading rooms and additional space for books -A children’s puppet theatre -20 additional computers with shared printers for public use -An expanded genealogical research area -A copy center with copier and work space -More comfortable seating areas -Additional restrooms -A friends of the library coffee and gift shop -A meeting room for 75 people
-2 small tutoring a study rooms
-An outdoor reading area
-Display space for art and small exhibit -and some much needed additional parking spaces.
The Library Board has purchased a lot next to the library which will allow them to have the room they need to expand. Jennings told the Commission that the project would be completed without local taxpayer funds, but the Board may ask for a slightly larger yearly donation in the future. The funds to complete the project will come from State grants and private donations. Jennings said that a completion date for the project has been set for 2014, but the Board hopes to have the project completed sooner.
In other business before the Commission:
Members voted to repair the roof at the jail. At their October meeting, members asked to be presented with some options to address the problem of a leaking jail roof and malfunctioning air conditioner units. An architect reviewed the situation and, in a letter to the Commission, came up with a figure of $152,050.00 to replace the roof and air units and $16,000.00 to repair them. Members decided to repair rather than replace the roof and units due to the dramatic difference in cost between the two options. Members appropriated $7,000.00 to repair the roof but approved no funds to repair the units. The units are currently functioning, and will be repaired as they break down.
Members also approved a $105,000.00 capital outlay note to purchase a new ambulance and cardio equipment for each ambulance. Members entered into some discussion about the purchase. Third District Commissioner Kevin George wanted to wait on project until it was absolutely necessary. George also said he objected to borrowing the money to pay for the project. Ambulance Director Ricky Cope said that he could get by without the new ambulance and equipment but it would be difficult. County Executive Mike Gannon told the group that, when members passed this year’s budget in July, they approved the purchase and the capital outlay note was the method chosen to fund it. George said if it was not absolutely necessary, he would prefer that they not spend the money due to the current economic conditions. Members voted 6 to 2 to go ahead with the purchase. Those voting for the note were Mark Barker, Karen Ashford, Greg Mitchell, Joe Wimberly, Bob Stoetzel and Brad Hall. Those voting against were Nathan Nichols and Kevin George. Todd Hollandsworth passed.
The Commission also gave a green light to the purchase of a used fire truck for the Mooretown community. The main truck used at Mooretown has been out of service for the last couple of months and the Fire Board has been investigating various options. The Board located a used fire truck with low mileage for a little over $39,000.00. The Commission gave the Board the authority to enter into negotiations to purchase the vehicle. Once a deal is reached, the Commission will meet in January to decide how to pay for it. Some members preferred taking out a loan to purchase the truck while others prefer paying for it out of the fund balance, which currently stands at about $750,000.00. The Commission and Board will also begin the planning phase of a project to replace a large number of the county’s fire engines, almost all of which have high mileage. Plans for the purchases will be ironed out over the next year.
County Executive Mike Gannon reserved the last portion of the meeting to report on audit findings returned by the State of Tennessee’s Department of Revenue. The auditor found a total of 8 adverse findings in the office of County Executive and Gannon wanted to explain the findings to the Commission. Gannon said that most of the findings were the result of end of the year spending which his office had to deal with because bills came in later than expected. He also said an adverse finding concerning money not being deposited by satellite collection sites within three days of receipt is something he and the various different agencies are working on. Gannon said that any Commissioner or citizen who wanted to speak with him about the findings could do so at any time.