HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0172priorities for the county. She said they were #1 the courts, #2 the library and #3 the Department of
Social Services. Continuing, Foster said that recently the EMS Department was moved to the
$275,000 Boggs Building. She mentioned the construction of the new Agriculture Building and the
eventual usage of the present Agricultural Building for extra court space. Mrs. Foster then
mentioned the purchase of property near the social services department. She said it was puzzling
why the social services project had been pushed forward. She shared statistics about the Work First
Program and said the counties cash benefits roll had decreased. Foster said this was a national trend.
She questioned by DSS needed more space if the welfare rolls were decreasing.
Foster said a web site had been established to inform the public about the library
inadequacies. She said a petition was being circulated for citizens not having computer access.
The intent of the petition, she said, was to alert the board of commissioners to the fact that there was
a county -wide desire to have the library expanded. She asked permission, on behalf of the Junior
Service League, to leave a petition at the library facility. Foster added that recently a Statesville
businessman wanted to donate computers and word processors to the library; however, the
equipment could not be accepted due to the lack of space.
Mrs. Foster asked for the board's plans for the library. She said the county manager had
informed her the library would not be reviewed again until the DSS building received its $2 million
renovation. Foster asked if it wasn't possible for an on-going review of the library to occur. She
said that economically, Iredell County had been fortunate in the past few years and had seen an
increase in tax revenues of over 40%.
Commissioner Johnson said he agreed with Mrs. Foster's statements in reference to the
welfare reduction. He said that most county libraries in North Carolina received some municipal
funding, but that Iredell County did not. Johnson said that in 1998, the Iredell County library
received a little over $1 million from the county, it received $177,000 from North Carolina, and $20
from the federal government. He said the library did not receive any money from the City of
Statesville. Johnson said that in 1998, the Mooresville library received $147,000 from the "town.
$150,000 from the county, $17,000 from North Carolina, no federal money, and $99,000 from other
sources. He said that most counties similar in size to Iredell had branch libraries. Mr. Johnson said
there was a plan at one point to open a "store -front type" of library in Mooresville. The county
proposed to rent a site since the demographics of the county changed so rapidly. Then, the Town
of Mooresville approached the county and said its facility could be used as a branch library. The
proposal was that the Town would continue to contribute to the current expense and fully fund the
capital expense if the county contributed to the current expense. Johnson said this was an offer "too
good to pass up."
Foster said she understood that about 20 years ago, Iredell County assumed control of the
Statesville Municipal Library. When this happened, Statesville discontinued funding and turned
everything over to the county. Mrs. Foster said she did not feel the Mooresville library could be
termed a "satellite facility." She said that Statesville was in the center of the county, and the
geography should not be used as a factor. Foster said the Iredcll County Library had lighting.
parking, staffing, and technology needs.
Chairman Tice said it appeared that Mrs. Foster had done considerable research. Tice asked
if any comparisons had been made on the tax base.
Foster said she had researched the issue, but she didn't have the figures.
Tice said the tax base in Davidson I & II was about equal to the tax base in the City of
Statesville. She said that when inequities were discussed, that this should be considered. Tice said
the people in the southern end also had needs. She said the commissioners were spending over a
million dollars for the Statesville area and $500,000 for the Mooresville library. She reiterated that
Mooresville had about the same number of people. Tice said it was less expensive to partner with
Mooresville, than it was to lease space for a satellite.