Library Director Betty Lawrence stood before the BOCC to ask for support for the Dowling Park library project. - Photo: Amber Vann

The lease agreement between the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Advent Christian Village (ACV) for the construction of a library in Dowling Park was approved at the Tuesday, Oct. 7 meeting of the BOCC, but not before a lengthy and impassioned discussion.

Suwannee River Regional Library (SRRL) Director Betty Lawrence sought the BOCC’s approval of the SRRL’s 2015 Long Range Plan, the lease agreement, and the naming rights to donors for designated spaces. Before getting into the lease agreement, Commissioner Ricky Gamble called upon former library director Danny Hales to explain the history of the Dowling Park library project.

“In 2006, we started looking at a hole in our library system in Western Suwannee County,” said Hales. “We knew that in order to get this library built, we would need a strong partnership, so we approached the ACV; they were totally supportive. We kept applying for the [Public Library Construction] Grant from the state, but we were never high enough on the list. Then the nation faced economic issues, and there was no funding in the state for libraries. Finally, after eight years, we have made the list.”
Hales said there is now a four-part partnership in place to fund the Dowling Park library: the ACV, the county, the state, and donors. The ACV is also lending professional fundraising expertise to draw from donors around the country.

“Good things come to those who wait,” Hales said, “and we have to strike while the iron is hot.”

The proposed library location is near the intersection of Dowling Park Drive and Martin Jones Boulevard, by the Carter Village Hall in the ACV. The estimated cost for the project is $1,441,500. The state grant will provide $500,000, and the BOCC will provide another $500,000 from funds saved by the SRRL over the years. The rest of the money is expected to come from donations.

County Attorney Jimmy Prevatt explained that the current lease agreement would be for 40 years, and could be renewed annually for $10 per year. The lease includes a reverter clause should construction be postponed for over a year.

Commissioner Wesley Wainwright stated that he would prefer owning the land that the library would be built on. He also expressed concerns about continued library funding.

“If state library funding decreases like it has before,” said Wainwright, “that would mean cutting staff and hours at the current libraries. The libraries rely on state aid, and if that goes away, we would have an additional library to deal with.”

Lawrence assured Wainwright that state aid has traditionally been reliable. Wainwright said that while he believed the project was a good idea and had no doubt about the need, he could not, in good conscience, go along with it without a guarantee that the state will continue its funding.

Gamble, whose district includes Dowling Park and the proposed library location and who has been closely involved in the project, made a stand of support.

“The $1.5 million budget set for the library is on the high end,” said Gamble. “That number doesn’t consider fundraising efforts. By not going forward, you’re not allowing that economic contribution to show itself. The recurring cost, annually, to operate the library is $124,000 at the high end. In actuality, Lawrence has told me that the library could be ran for around $75,000 a year. Only $50,000 of that would come from the BOCC.”

Commissioner Jason Bashaw suggested that the BOCC move away from a lease and look at a warranty deed for the county to own the property.

“I have a hard time swallowing the lease also,” said Chairman Phil Oxendine. “As chairman, it is my responsibility to make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. I’m not gonna do it [support the lease].”

ACV President Craig Carter stood before the board to explain that the SRRL had contacted the ACV first with the idea of a lease, not the other way around.

“They requested the location because of its visibility and activity within the Village,” said Carter. “The ACV is not prepared to give that property to the county because it is such a valuable property. We will, however, continue to honor our commitment and we hope the county does the same.”

Shawn Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dowling Park, commented on the concern of state funding falling through.

“I’m a pastor and I depend on tithes week by week,” said Johnson. “Now, I don’t know if they’re coming or not, but I keep preaching. If you are afraid of what may or may not happen, we all might as well pack up and go home because we’ll never get anything done.”

Gamble reminded the BOCC that several weeks ago they had unanimously approved of application documents, including the lease, before they were sent to the state.

“It would be an injustice to everything that everyone has put into this if we dismissed it,” said Gamble. “If you’re not happy with this lease, let’s work something else out for the Village to look at.”

Lawrence reiterated the thoughts of Johnson, stating: “We live in a government-funded world; everyone here could get laid off tomorrow. Please don’t lose vision; this library is not just fluff, it is a need.”

Carter reminded the BOCC that until the actual library building is constructed, the county can get out of the lease at any time. Taking this into consideration, the board approved the lease agreement by a 3-2 vote, with Wainwright and Oxendine dissenting. Commissioners Gamble, Clyde Fleming, and Bashaw were in support. Bashaw, while still calling for the library property to be owned by the county and not leased, gave his approval because he did not wish to prohibit any fundraising efforts.

Once the county and the ACV sign the lease agreement, Lawrence will present it to the state to move forward with the grant funding.