Towns disagree on library location
By Steve Herring
Published in News on April 20, 2016 1:46 PM
A new library in northern Wayne County is among the goals being considered by Wayne County commissioners.
But County Manager George Wood told the board Tuesday morning that progress has been hampered by Fremont's and Pikeville's inability to agree on a location.
Commissioners reviewed the goals that grew out of a planning retreat earlier in the year.
Wood said the library had moved up in priority since that initial session.
"I think before we spend a lot of time, the best use of the time is we need to have some meetings with Pikeville and Fremont because if they can't agree on a location it is kind of pointless."
Commissioner Joe Gurley questioned why the county could not work out an arrangement with the Wayne County Board of Education to use one its facilities.
"I totally agree," Chairman Joe Daughtery said.
"Maybe we can," Wood said.
Daughtery noted that the goal does not spell out how the county wants to handle the new library.
A new building on a new location would be expensive, he said.
"And the problem is that they (Fremont and Pikeville) can't agree," Wood said. "I have already had preliminary discussions with both."
Daughtery said the library is a priority and that those discussions should continue.
"In years past the schools were used some in the community," Gurley said. "I know Rosewood High Schools was. If they would be acceptable to Charles B. Aycock High School -- it is in between Fremont and Pikeville to serve the whole community.
"You have a large inventory there, both hard and technology."
However, Commissioner Ray Mayo, who had advocated for the library, said he believes there would be a concern about using the high school because of different grade levels going to the library.
"I think you are going to have all kinds of issues with security and all kinds of issues with younger students coming in there," he said. "That is why, and this is just from one commissioner, I think that we can come together in the northern end of the county.
"I have had some communications, too, Mr. Wood, and it looks like I think if we really sit down we can work it out. But in my opinion, this is just my commissioner's opinion, of course when it was brought up years ago that was what was brought up was that a separate location around that area."
Daughtery asked Wood to find out if there was a commitment from the municipalities.
"I think what we are going to have to do is ultimately do is have an invitation to a meeting and sit down with them," Wood said.