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Library Board in St. Charles Parish opts to build, not buy

Matt Scallan, The Times-Picayune By Matt Scallan, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
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on April 15, 2009 at 9:54 PM, updated December 21, 2009 at 5:07 PM

The St. Charles Parish Library Board still wants a vacant restaurant for a new branch in Paradis, despite vehement opposition from that district's parish councilman.

The board, which operates the library system, also declined to act on Parish Councilman Paul Hogan's request that it move up a renewal election for its 4.79-mill property tax from 2010 to this year to provide enough money to build a brand-new library.

The tax provides money for the system's operations as well as construction, and board members said voters would be more likely to vote down the renewal if it were put on the October ballot.

If the council votes down the board's purchase of the restaurant building on Monday, the board still has time to change course and put the renewal on this year's ballot.

The Library Board runs the system, but needs the council's approval because only the parish government can authorize the purchase of property or construction.

The council is to consider an ordinance to buy the site at its meeting Monday, which begins at 6 p.m.

Board members said they would consider a new course if the council votes against buying the building, which formerly housed a seafood buffet and a Chinese restaurant.

Hogan, whose district includes the area, said the Paradis, Des Allemands and Bayou Gauche communities deserve a new library.

"Our part of the parish has been the forgotten one for years, and once again, we feel like we're being side-stepped, " Hogan said.

But the residents who attended the board meeting said they want a library as quickly as possible.

"We're missing something that we need now, " said Bayou Gauche resident Tina Walls, who scoffed at Hogan's suggestion that modular buildings designed to withstand hurricane winds would be a viable temporary replacement. "They have them at the schools, " she said of the modular buildings. "How come they evacuate them whenever there's a tornado warning?"

Hogan said he is concerned that the 6,000-square-foot building will become the permanent library; he wants to build a branch modeled on the 10,000-square-foot St. Rose branch, completed in 2003 for $1.3 million.

Hogan argues that a new, smaller branch can be built for about $1.5 million, but board members disagreed that it could be done for that price.

A construction estimate by Chenevert Architects put the cost for buying and renovating the building at 15207 U.S. 90 between Cadow and Wisner streets at $1.1 million. The building has appraised for $440,000.

Hogan appears to face an uphill battle in blocking the project at Monday's council meeting.

Councilman Dennis Nuss, the council's non-voting representative on the Library Board, said he put the matter up for consideration when Hogan would not.

"We've had five meetings on this where the public has had had the opportunity to speak on this since November, and in each case they were overwhelmingly in favor of having a library as soon as possible, " Nuss said.

Other council members at Wednesday's meeting said they support the library board's move.

"Y'all are the ones who are dealing with this every day, " Councilman Larry Cochran said. "I'm with the Fire Department, and I wouldn't want someone to tell me where to put a fire station or when to buy a truck."

"You are doing a fantastic job, " Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto told the board.

Hogan counters that those pressing for the renovated building are a vocal minority. He and other residents have gathered 380 signatures on a petition supporting a built-from-scratch library.

He and Councilwoman Carolyn Schexnaydre want the library to use temporary modular buildings until a new library can be built.

The Chenevert firm estimates that option would cost $780,000 for 4,000 square feet, a figure Hogan says is too high.

. . . . . . .

Matt Scallan can be reached at mscallan@timespicayune.com or 985.652.0953.
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