Library drama continues after council adds second option
To build or not to build, that is the question when it comes to a new library in Paradis.
Several residents showed up at the Parish Council meeting Monday night to voice their opinions on whether or not the parish should purchase a former seafood restaurant on Highway 90 and turn the old restaurant into a new library.
But right before the matter was opened up for public comment, Councilman Terry Authement said the Parish Council was looking at another option – the construction of a new building.
“We have been looking at a different site in Paradis,” Authement said.
That site, which is located on Old Spanish Trail and formerly housed Paradis Elementary, is currently owned by the school system. Authement said that School Board members have indicated that they would be willing to lease the land to the parish.
Councilman Paul Hogan, who had “major” concerns about the purchase of the restaurant in his district, said he did research to find out that the library board did have the money to build a new building. He said that he then shared that information with his fellow council members before the meeting.
Authement said the design of a new building would take four to six months and it could take around 60 days to go out for bid. Allowing an additional eight months for construction means the building could be complete in 14 to 18 months.
Authement also said he has been told by architect Norman Chenevert that the price of construction has dropped to “almost” pre-Katrina levels, and that a 5,000 square-foot library could be built for around $750,000.
Purchasing the old restaurant would cost the parish $440,00 and it would cost around $600,000 to renovate it. The renovation process is estimated to take one year.
Some residents applauded the move, saying that the old restaurant location on Highway 90 is too dangerous due to the lack of a center turn lane, which would make the new location on Old Spanish Trail a safer one.
“I’m a mother of four and I take my children to the library,” Jill Schieffler said. “I don’t mind waiting for one in a safe place. The best things in life you wait for – why not a library?”
But others felt that the former restaurant’s location near R.J. Vial, J.B. Martin and Four Star Daycare would make it easier for children to visit the library.
“Its very convenient for the local schools and the daycare nearby and I believe that location will offer positive aspects to children,” Margaret East said. “This is something we have been waiting for in our community and we don’t want to have to continue to wait for our library.”
Des Allemands resident Anne Candies said that she is willing to listen to options, but that her community needs a library now and she is not willing to wait. If the council does decide to lease land from the School Board, Candies said that she wants a stipulation built into the lease agreement that the library would be built in two years.
Authement said that the two sides would work on including that.
“We need a library now, and I don’t like taking the bird out of my hand,” Tina Wells said. “I will hold you (Authement) accountable if this is not done in two years. I am tired of the political stuff.”
That “political stuff” also drew the ire of Councilman Dennis Nuss.
“I’m excited that we have so much discussion on this issue,” Nuss said. “The politics need to be taken out of it. I’m personally disgusted with the politics of this.”
The council voted to put off a decision until their next board meeting on May 4.
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