The Peachtree

City Library Commission took another step towards a possible bond referendum

for library renovation and expansion on Wednesday evening. The commission

approved the choice of the Leo Daly architectural firm to come up with

the conceptual design and cost estimate for the project.

Director of

Leisure Services Randy Gaddo and members of the library staff chose Daly

over two other firms. Daly's asking price was $48,500 plus an additional

$4,500 for reimbursables bringing the total to $53,000. If the bond referendum

should pass in November, $20,000 will be returned as a credit towards

construction. The $53,000 will come from the Library Enhancement Fund.

The fund started after a SPLOST was passed for the county in 1992 for

the Fayette County Library construction. Funds collected in excess of

four million dollars were distributed and the Peachtree City Library got

$428,000. A portion of those funds were used for a 10,000 square foot

expansion at the library in 1995.

The Library

Commission is getting a lot for their money, including a 3-D model that

will show how the library will be renovated, a 20-year master plan, an

evaluation of existing utility systems and four two-day work sessions

where the commission, staff and committee groups can offer their input

on progress.

"We know

what we want, but we don't know how to go about designing it," said

Gaddo. "They will be able to pull our vision out and put it on paper."

Daly, which

is currently working on the Lovejoy Library as well as the Southern Federal

Credit Union in Peachtree City, has also offered to assist in the presentation

to council, which is the first step to get on the November ballot, as

well as presentations to civic and community groups to drum up interest

and support for the project. The commission estimates going before council

in August.

"They

want to be a part of the presentations because they are the best qualified

to speak on the design," said Gaddo.

Commission

chairman Chris Clark expressed a bit of concern over the cost of $53,000

because it would only leave $8,000 in the Library Enhancement Fund. The

rest of the commission understood his concerns but felt that this is exactly

what the fund is for.

Marie Washburn,

vice chairman of the commission, stated that "the fund is to be used

to enhance the library and its services." Commission member Barbara

Swafford agreed. "The Commission has a larger role than to just be

the gatekeeper of the enhancement fund," Swafford said. "We

are to be the liaison between the community and the staff. If the best

company does the design, the referendum for the renovation has a better

chance to happen."

The commission

then unanimously approved the choice of Daly. There is a lot of work to

be done over the next few months as the commission readies presentations

to get a bond referendum on the November ballot. After the vote commission

member Madqe Quick urged her colleagues to take a deep breath, adding

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us."