The Bowman City Council voted unanimously last week to continue with Elbert County Public Library Director Jan Burroughs in pursuing a Georgia Public Library Service Major Repair and Renovation Grant Program for refurbishments and repairs for Bowman Public Library.
According to Burroughs, the state-funded program is a 90/10 grant in which the state will provided 90 percent of the funds with a 10 percent match from the City of Bowman.
The total cost of the project will be $117,041.57 (with 90 percent totaling at $106,401.43 from the state with a 10 percent contribution of $10,640.14 from the City of Bowman).
Burroughs said the project will cover repairs such as leveling the flooring, automatic doors that meet ADA (American Disabilities Act) standards, sheet rock over concrete block on the exterior for a more “finished look,” a wider door to the children’s area which will also be in compliance with ADA standards, refurbished shelving, book carts, chairs and more improvements.
“When the city decided to pass on the former grant … the city decided to move forward with this,” she said.
Burroughs said that the city will need to make a final decision on the grant by mid-to-late July in order to receive the funds for the fiscal year 2020.
“With our issues with the library kind of falling off and what not, I think this would be a great step forward,” said Mayor Pete Gibbons. “Now that we’re a city without a school, I think we need to hold on to every educational source we have and make sure we continue to build the library and bring it back to life. I think this would be a huge step to that … a huge boost to the community.”
If accepted, the City of Bowman would have to maintain the building for at least five years.
Funding from the City of Bowman would come from SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax).
The council met in a closed executive meeting for over an hour to discuss negotiations with the City of Elberton for the potential sale of the Bowman Municipal Gas Department.
According to Bowman City Attorney Richard Campbell, all gas services in Bowman would be taken over by the City of Elberton if the sale goes through.
Gibbons and City of Elberton Manager Lanier Dunn are “still negotiating terms.”
A public hearing on the topic will be held June 24 at 6:30 p.m. before Bowman’s regularly scheduled June meeting. Bowman will potentially vote on the sale during next month’s meeting.