Letters 10/29: County art project may cost more than it’s worth

After reading the article “Looking for a place to perform,” every citizen of Warren County ought to question the intelligence level of the individuals comprising the board of trustees for the Warren County Arts and Culture Center.

Undertaking a project such as this with a cost estimated between $11 million to $14 million, to serve 31,000 people annually, and with an annual estimated operating deficit of $305,000 just doesn’t make any sense even in a great economy.

My concern is that this project, if indeed it moves forward, will eventually become the burden of Warren County taxpayers after the private funding dries up.

Gary Van Nostrand

Lebanon

Lebanon Public Library defends park construction

In 1991, three pieces of property were purchased for the purpose of expanded parking for library patrons. The properties were rented to help offset the cost and the total income realized was almost $331,000. The two properties on Main Street cost $302,500. Property rental was discontinued when upkeep expenses were exceeding the income. The dollar amount in the Western Star 10/22 article on Page A1 did not take into consideration the rental income received or source of funds being utilized. The project began 18 years ago. Beginning with the purchase, recouping the purchase cost, expanding the previous parking lot, demolition and working with the city to create a project that the library and the city can take pride in.

The buildings were deteriorating, becoming a safety hazard and an eyesore and needed to be removed. The city council was receptive to the library developing a park on the property which would provide an attractive entrance to the downtown business area. The park provides library patrons with an area to read books, provide a pleasant area for book clubs to meet and discuss their current projects and to use wireless internet.

The library received 12 bids with several being significantly lower than the architect’s estimate of $375,000. Our lowest and best bid, with adjustments, was $286,026. We feel confident that if we had not proceeded with the project during this time of economic downturn and competitive bidding environment, the cost would have been thousands of dollars more.

The sources of funds for the project are: Land acquisition — $302,500 Permanent Improvement Fund; Demolition — $29,780 General Fund; Design, Engineering $29,722 Mary Will Estate/Will Trust Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund; Misc. Permits and Fees $1,201 Permanent Improvement Fund; Statues $21,400 L.N. Bunnell Bequeath/Gift Trust Fund — restricted to Art Works; and Construction Contract — $286,026 Mary Will Estate/Will Trust Fund

We do not consider the trust funds and bequeaths as funds received from public tax sources. We do not consider rental income of almost $331,000 as funds received from public tax sources. Our private donations through Sept. 30 are $28,375.

As with all public entities, we are audited by the state every two years. We have never, to my recollection, received a financial citation and have always been commended about our prudent manner of operations. Our last auditor even called us “frugal.”

The general fund is used for operations. This fund’s source of income is state local government distributions and fines, fees, and donations. These are the funds that has been drastically cut by the state budget. The library does not have an operating levy. We need this levy to meet the level of service that the residents expect and deserve.

Julie Florence

Director, 
Lebanon Public Library

Lois Freeze Stovall

Treasurer, 
Lebanon Public Library

Lee Wiederhold

President, Library Board

Librarian efforts impact Lebanon positively

We all should be supporting our librarian Julie Florence in her efforts to bring some class to this town. Ms. Florence is one of the few visionaries I have seen in Lebanon. She has brought positive change to our Library and the creation of a park next to the library is an unprecedented investment in making Lebanon a more pleasant place to live.

It is unfortunate that instead of getting behind these efforts to bring cultural change to Lebanon, we have people, who have lined their pockets doing business here, criticizing Ms. Florence’s efforts. Shame on us for permitting cut backs in the public library. I have heard that the popular press is no longer free and independent. If the libraries go, then we can all sit back and let the politicians feed us what we need to know.

Those who are criticizing the efforts of our librarian are the same people who are sitting back and doing nothing to improve the quality of life for Lebanon citizens.

Roger Staton

Lebanon