People are
asking why hasn’t the Painting / Shutter Project started, yet. Unfortunately
there is not a good, concise answer - but here's the story.
As you may be aware, the City of Natchez
owns the library building and is legally responsible for the maintenance of the
building and property. We approached
the City of Natchez and offered (what we thought was) a great DEAL – the
Friends of the Library would pay for the Painting/Repairs/Shutters project if
the City would follow the legal procedures necessary to select a contractor.
We began
this project with that plan in mind. The City would determine what needed to
be done and would secure the necessary cost estimates, following the
procurement laws of the State of Mississippi - a procedure they follow regularly
for any city-owned building. They select the contractor(s) and approve for
the work to begin. The Friends of the Library raises the funds necessary and
write the checks. Should be simple, right? Wrong!
After two
months of getting prices and “negotiating” it occurred (to someone) that there
may be lead-based paint on a 48 years old building! We were asked if we held “regular
classes for children under the age of 6” to which I responded, “Classes?” The
question was repeated. I responded that we have regular Mommy – Baby storytime
every Tuesday morning and Pre-school/Daycare storytime every Wednesday morning –
and we’re about to start Summer Library Program! I actually asked, “Public
libraries – Children’s programming . . . What do you think we do?!?!?!!!”
So, back to
square one. <sigh>! It would seem the lead paint abatement is going to cost a
chunk of money. I asked, “How much?” and
was given a general cost estimate. Then after I picked myself up off the floor, I was asked how much we had. I
responded, “Not THAT much! And most of what we have is dedicated to the
shutters!”
A bit of
history here. We had asked the City of Natchez in early 2008 to get the exterior
painting and repairs done before the planned Mississippi Library Association
Annual Conference (held in October of that year). Well, it obviously didn’t
happen. Now that the MLA Annual Conference will be back in Natchez in October
of THIS year, we offered - and made - the DEAL , based on the cost estimate from the summer of
2008. Little did we realize how much damage four more years of neglect could
cause.
So, while “Adopt
a Needy Shutter” was an enormous success, our fundraising efforts are not over!
We will continue to pursue the project, with phone calls to the City every few
days, each asking the same question, “What’s the latest update on the cost
projections?”
When (not
IF) I get an answer, I’ll let you know. Rest assured, I am staying on top of
this and I WILL NOT LET THE ISSUE DROP. Tenacious should be my middle name!
In the
meantime, my sincere appreciation goes out to everyone that has made a donation
and understands the important role the public library holds in every community!
Thank you!
