When members of the Athens –Limestone Public Library Foundation began talking about purchasing the old Kroger building, they thought it might be the ideal alternative to building a new library.

But according to foundation member Frank McCollum, the group was not quite ready this summer to announce plans. However, when a local man began running a classified advertisement in the News Courier, soliciting vendors for a flea market in the Kroger building, the foundation felt as though time were running out, McCollum said.

On Monday foundation member Harvey Craig made a presentation to the Athens City Council and on Wednesday to the Limestone County Commission, attempting to attract funding for the project.

Craig said if the group could get backing for the renovations it would take the purchase price for the building from its Southard Fund, which is not public money, but interest accrued from a 1990 bequest from the estate of the late Shelby Southard, a former Athens resident who left $1 million to the Athens library in his will.

Both the council and commission were noncommittal on the project.

On Thursday, Ronnie Edwards, who was trying to sign up enough vendors to rent the Kroger building for a flea market, said he downsized plans when he could not attract enough interest.

“They want $13,000 a month to lease the Kroger building,” said Edwards. “I would have had to sign up at least 106 vendors to break even. We looked for something smaller and we hope to get that wrapped up over the next week or two.”

Edwards confirmed that he is in talks to rent the old Hickory House, a former barbecue restaurant, which has in recent years been an antique shop.

McCollum said he was “relieved” to hear there was no longer any urgency to act quickly, but he is “glad we got started on it when we did.”

McCollum said the foundation has been “working through an intermediary” in dealing with the Kroger building’s owners.

“We don’t have a contract on the building,” said McCollum. “At the point we’re at now, we know the building can be used for a library. It’s got a good roof, sound walls and the pad is able to handle the weight of the books.”

McCollum said the foundation knew that it might not be “great timing” to approach the council and commission during budget time, but they needed to know if there is community support or the project.

“We’ve talked to a couple of foundations,” said McCollum. “They want to see a complete plan and know if there is community support on the front end.”

The Athens Limestone Public Library Foundation is hosting a public meeting Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Athens City Council chambers on North Marion Street to talk about the possibility of a new library and to answer questions.