Norris greenlights $80k renovation of library building
Council OKs $3,500 donation for park water line
The McNeely Building, which houses the Norris Public Library and Norris Museum, will get new exterior siding to address a major issue with the historic building on Norris Square, thanks to the City Council’s approval Monday night of a nearly $80,000 contract for the work.
Separately, the council approved the acceptance of a $3,500 donation from city residents Spencer and May Boardman to cover the cost of running a city water line to the new Norris Creamery Park, which is under development along East Norris Road at the entrance to the city off Andersonville Highway.
The Boardmans, who have long been involved in volunteer work to aid many different Norris community projects and initiatives, are making the donation because there is no money in the city budget to pay for the water line.
Spencer Boardman, who has taken the lead on development of Creamery Park — entirely as an unpaid volunteer — told the council the line is needed to provide water necessary for construction projects in the park.
Despite the objection of Councilman Chuck Nicholson, who opposed accepting the donation and running the water line, the council gave its blessing to the project and the gift from the Boardmans.
Nicholson said he objected to running a water line to the new park because the city’s Parks and Recreation Board had not approved it, and did not believe it would be necessary.
The city has already appropriated $10,000 in taxpayer funds for initial development of the park, which already has a paved sidewalk running through it that was paid for under a different project about two years ago.
Boardman also asked that the city use the $3,500 donation in addition to the city’s own $10,000 appropriation to the park, rather than subtracting the donation from the city’s contribution. The council agreed.
As for the renovation work on the McNeely Building, the council approved the only bid submitted for the work, $79,912, from Stooksbury Contractors LLC.
In a separate action, the council amended the 2024-25 budget to add $80,000 to pay for the siding work.
City Manager Adam Ledford told The Courier News that the McNeely Building renovations are the second of three major projects identified earlier as necessary for city facilities. One, putting a new roof on the Public Safety Building, has now been completed.
The third project, renovation or replacement of the Norris Community Building, is still to be debated and the process to be determined.
In other business, the council deferred action on an ordinance on regulation of tree plantings on city property, and a proposed ordinance dealing with what would be allowed to be done by residents on to city right of way land that is adjacent to their own properties.
The council will hold a public workshop on the two issues at 6 p.m. on Jan. 9.
A separate council public workshop has been set for 7 p.m. Dec. 2 to discuss specifications for a new solid waste collection contract to replace the one expiring next June 30 that is held by Waste Connections.