New library in works for Leonardtown

Hayden farm to host building

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The official vote came during a budget work session.

The Leonardtown library is 16,000 square feet and a new building would be between 35,000 and 39,000 square feet on land across the highway.

The commissioners, on another 4-1 vote, agreed in December to buy 172 acres known as the Hayden Farm for $5.3 million to house schools and perhaps a new library.

George Erichsen, director of the department of public works and transportation, said of the existing Leonardtown library, "They are, I'll say, busting at the seams. It's a pretty heavily used facility."

The Leonardtown library sees 13,000 items borrowed a month, with an average of 20,000 visitors per month and 3,800 computer users a month.

While the new library has not been designed yet, the cost estimate is placed between $13 million and $15 million. The commissioners offered varying figures on the difference between a new building and renovating the existing one.

Right now, the commissioners are looking at $45 million in borrowing for projects planned over the next six years. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D) stressed he would support the new library only so long as county borrowing is limited to $35 million and the rest of the board agreed. Other building projects will have to be removed or reduced to meet that level during this month's budget work sessions. The final 2010 budget needs to be approved by the end of the month.

A consultant said a new library for Leonardtown should be at least 40,000 square feet, but the Lexington Park library, the county's busiest, is only 24,000 square feet.

Raley offered a 35,000-square-foot library for Leonardtown, fearing a larger building would push the total of county building costs in the budget over $35 million.

"If the best you can do is 35,000, we'll certainly work with that," said Kathleen Reif, library system director.

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) said now is a good time to move the project ahead because building contractors need work. "We have the opportunity for some attractive and competitive bids," he said.

Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) voted against a new building, as he also voted against the Hayden Farm purchased in December.

"I love the libraries, I support all of them, but I have to recognize the fiscal climate," he said. He said it would cost $3.5 million more to construct a new building over renovating the existing library and would add $1 million to the county's debt service, which is currently $14 million.

Mattingly said the difference between a new library and renovating the old one is $2.7 million.

The current library building was built in 1954. If the county renovated it, "We're going to end up with an old building that's been remodeled," Raley said. He's trying to meet the needs of the patrons, he said.

"Nobody was against a new library" at last month's budget public hearing, said Commissioner Kenny Dement (R).

Planning funds were moved to 2010 and construction dollars will be put in 2011 and 2012 for the new library.

The decision came on a motion made by Mattingly and seconded by Raley during a budget work session and a decision was not announced as an item on the commissioners' agenda. "That's a good point," said John Savich, county administrator, on Tuesday. "Because it was a big issue I think is why they ended up doing it."

He said of the budget overall, "There are no special rules for work sessions. Until it's adopted you've taken no action."

It took 13 years to build a new library in Lexington Park, Mattingly said. "Because they couldn't agree on a site," Raley said Monday.

The current Lexington Park library opened Oct. 7, 2002, at a cost of $6 million. The previous one on Coral Drive opened in 1968 and is now home to the Three Notch Theatre.

jbabcock@somdnews.com