HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0790cars. Mr. Gaulden said tractor trailers would have to "come around the building and then out" for
deliveries. He said a plateau would have to be created on the site for the 20,000 sq. ft. plate. Mr.
Gaulden said the city would have to position retaining walls around the site.
Mr. Mashburn said the county staff had reviewed the Meeting Street site with the assumption
the city could deliver it as "buildable." He said someone needed to clarify with the architect what
"buildable" meant.
Chairman Tice asked if the county staff had any recommendations on the sites.
Mr. Mashburn, said that of the two downtown sites, without question, the Meeting Street
location was the staff and architect's preference. Fie said, however, the staff didn't think it was the
appropriate location for the library. Mashburn said a library on the Meeting Street site would improve
and complement the government complex facilities, but the Eastside Drive location was his personal
preference.
Gaulden said that on Eastside Drive there was unlimited expansion space. He said that if a
variance could be obtained from the city, 2,000 extra sq. ft. could be gained at the Meeting Street site.
Also, if the building (Meeting Street) could be shifted forward eight feet, facing Front Street, an
additional 8,800 sq. ft. could be obtained.
Commissioner Bowles said he understood that in order to place the building on the Stockton
Street site, the design plans would have to be eliminated and the process started over.
Gaulden said this was correct.
Commissioner Bowles said the facts and the figures both pointed out that Eastside Drive was
the best location; however, there was a strong desire to work with the city on the project.
Commissioner Williams asked what would happen if the Meeting Street site was found
unsuitable during the city's investigation.
Mayor Marshall said the city was requesting the opportunity to assure this did not happen. He
said, "We are prepared to spend money. We are prepared to do due diligence that will confirm by
experts coming in and advising on soil compaction and borings, and we'll make sure we have the
monies in place that will handle the infrastructure costs required to move things around. Then, we'll
come back to you and say, 'This is doable.' " He said, "We'll be sure about it, because we're about to
commit money." Marshall said that any money saved out of the $500,000, the $200,000, and the
brick would be given to the county. Marshall said it was his desire to come in under budget.
Commissioner Johnson said he had talked with the Texaco Station owners at the Meeting
Street site. He said the owners would definitely be impacted if the site was chosen, and many others
would be inconvenienced by the closing of the street. Johnson said the county manager said that 81%
of the people using the library did not live within the two mile radius of the center of the city. He
asked the mayor what was expected of the commissioners. Johnson asked how the city council would
interpret the vote if the commissioners voted for the Meeting Street property. Johnson said, "Does it
mean the city will spend $700,000 or $2 million to achieve a 'buildable' site?" He asked, assuming
the county voted on the Meeting Street site, if the city would interpret the vote to mean the county's
deliberations were over.
Marshall said he understood the dilemma, but it worked both ways. He said the city was
asking for a "good faith intention." He said he expected some assurance that once a return trip was
made with the money and a statement indicating the site was "buildable," the county would accept it
as such.
Williams asked the timella ne to determine the site suitability.
Marshall said the holidays were coming up, but one individual could inspect the site in one
week and another had given a two-week estimate. He said the owners had already been approached.