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By Lynn Hotaling
A task force charged with making a recommendation to commissioners
concerning a shared-use library for Jackson County and Southwestern
Community College located on the SCC campus is on schedule to
complete its work by April.
Jackson County commissioners Nov. 25 unanimously approved a request
from Joint Library Task Force Chairman Joe Rossano to employ Harvard
Jolly Clees Toppe Architects of St. Petersburg, Fla., to conduct
a feasibility study at a cost of $40,000. (See related story,
page 3A.)
As part of the process, Harvard Jolly will conduct at least eight
focus groups and two community forums, Rossano said in answer
to a question from Commissioner Joe Cowan.
When asked if the firm had experience with joint libraries, Rossano
indicated that they do.
"That's one reason we chose (Harvard Jolly)," Rossano
said. They have extensive experience with joint facilities between
community colleges and public libraries.
Commissioners Brian McMahan asked Rossano about the results of
a recent informal survey aimed at gathering community input.
"We were overwhelmed with the return," Rossano said.
"We got 552 responses."
Rossano outlined several trends he said were based on survey responses.
Respondents wanted expanded hours, especially on weeknights, and
they requested reading rooms, he said.
Those completing the survey said - by "probably two to one"
that they would use a library more if it were located at SCC,
Rossano said.
However, results published in last week's Sylva Herald indicated
that most respondents said they would use library services less
often if the building was located on the SCC campus.
When questioned after the meeting, Rossano said he arrived at
that conclusion by totaling "use it the same" and "use
it more" responses.
But those numbers - 87 "use it the same" and 102 "use
it more" add up to 189, while 261 responded they'd use a
library located at SCC less often.
Rossano later told The Herald he didn't have the results of the
survey with him during the Nov. 25 commissioners' meeting.
Though initial discussions of a joint-use library facility at
SCC hinged on eliminating the downtown library, Buchanan in June
proposed a "tri-library service area" that would have
county libraries in Sylva, Cashiers and on the SCC campus.
A key component of that plan, however, was a $55,000 annual contribution
from the town of Sylva toward the downtown library, but Sylva
Vice Mayor Audrey Tritt said at the time she didn't think town
officials, who in May went on record in support of keeping the
library in Sylva, could allocate that much.
Commissioners to date have not voted on the tri-library proposal;
Buchanan indicated June 17 that action would not be taken until
county leaders received a recommendation from the Joint Library
Task Force.
In other action Nov. 25:
- Commissioners approved the low bid of $2.87 million from H&M
Construction to build a new science facility at Smoky Mountain
High. The bid came in about $140,000 under the estimated cost,
said county Manager Ken Westmoreland.
- Commissioners allocated $2,000 to purchase telephone cards for
the Jackson County residents serving in Iraq with the 210th National
Guard unit.
- Commissioners unanimously approved allocating $5,000 to the
Department on Aging to match contributions raised by area churches
to support the group's efforts to build wheelchair ramps.
- Commissioners approved bids totaling about $57,000 for asbestos
removal at the old Canada and Qualla schools.
- Commissioners approved a policy change that would allow the
county to donate obsolete computer equipment to non-profits, including
county rescue and fire departments and Pathways for the Future.
- Commissioners approved and made retroactive a policy that allows
county employees to transfer 100 percent of accumulated annual
leave from state or other local government jobs.
- Commissioners approved a local business plan for Smoky Mountain
Center. Commissioner Cowan abstained.
During their Nov. 18 meeting, commissioners appointed Frank Wilkie
to the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority board.
Commissioners will next meet Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m.
Among items expected to be acted upon during that meeting will
be the selection of a chairman and co-chairman for the county's
planning board. Nominees are Bob Ginn and Brandon Stephens for
chairman and Mike Moore and Sue Bumgarner for vice chairman.
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