The Athens City Council got its first look at plans for the new library Monday night.

Librarian Susan Todd showed drawings by CMH Architects, Inc., which have already been approved by the Athens-Limestone Library Board of Trustees.

The library, which is being created from the converted Kroger supermarket building on South Jefferson, will cost an estimated $5.9 million. That cost, minus local in-kind services such as site work, landscaping, and finishing work inside by Athens and Limestone County employees, should bring the price tag down to $4.3 million.

The library will be completed in three phases as funds become available. Phase I is developing bids and installation for heating and air-conditioning, plumbing and fiber-optic cable installation for computers.

Phase II will entail interior construction and Phase III will include finishing and furnishings.

Council President Ronnie Marks said the Library Foundation should have at least half of the amount — or $2.5 million — raised or pledged before construction begins.

“This is a beautiful building,” said Marks of the drawings. “I believe it will be a great thing for our community and I hope to see it completed in the next few years.”

Todd said the plan contains the latest measures in energy efficiency.

“We are going for LEED certification,” said Todd.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and provides a set of standards for environmentally sound construction.

“The features minimize operating costs and will be a more environmentally responsible design,” said Todd.

Todd said the library board and foundation wanted a building that “fit the spirit” of other Athens landmarks.

“We wanted something classic that didn’t go out of date,” she said.

Among the “green” features of the building is a cistern to collect rainwater for landscaping irrigation and climate controls for each section so when not in use a section would not require the amount of heating and cooling as other occupied sections.

Todd said the library had received a $16,000 grant for two self-checking machines. The plans also call for a café, study area, family computer room and conference center with its own entrance.

Marks said the city is working out the final details with the Limestone County Commission to purchase half of the building. The city purchased the building at auction in the summer of 2008 for $650,000 and the county will pay the city half of that amount.

“Once the county pays for half, I would hope we would put that amount into a capital account,” said Marks.



Other business



The council approved these agenda items:

• Set the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, as holiday for city employees;

• Named the joint city/Clements fire station that serves Black’s Landing “Oak Grove Station,” in honor of Oak Grove CME Church, which donated the property off Cowford Road on which to build the station. The church is the home church of Councilman Jimmy Gill;

• Approved travel expenses of $985.50 for Water/Wastewater Manager John Stockton to attend the annual AWWA Conference Oct. 4-7 in Biloxi, Miss., and the WEFTEC conference in Orlando, Oct. 11-15;

• Approved matching funds of $98,875 from the General Fund for a $495,000 ADECA grant to install public sewers in Cottonwood Subdivision. Stockton said it is too wet to begin work. He said by the time paperwork is finalized, work should begin in the spring and be completed by late summer;

• Amended the section 18-311-C of the Business License to bring it into accordance with the state business license that states only the name of an individual acquiring a license must be released, but other data will remain private;

• Approved a contract with Pinnacle Power Sweeping for 10 months at a cost of $25,000 for sidewalk cleaning and street sweeping.