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Future Of Molino Library Remains Uncertain; Tax Collector, Appraiser Moving Offices To Molino
February 16, 2011
While the future of a library in Molino remains in limbo, a community center and museum at the Old Molino School may be joined by a new office building for the county’s property appraiser and tax collector.
County officials laid out the current state of plans for the school at a town hall meeting Tuesday night in Molino. Most of the 50 people at the meeting had one major concern — will the project include a library as originally planned?
The project’s original plans called for a library, complete with the usual shelves of books, children’s areas and computer terminals. But without funding to operate its daily operations and employee salaries, library plans have been shelved for now. In addition, the county needs thousands more to complete building renovations for a library, including the addition of more structural supports under the building’s 72 year old floor to accommodate thousands of pounds of books.
“The project had always anticipated a $500,000 grant from the state,” said David Wheeler, Escambia County Facilities Management deputy bureau chief. “Without that grant, it will be reduced to a library kiosk.” That kiosk would likely be a computer system from which books could be ordered for delivery by the library system’s Bookmobile — no employees necessary.
“We really want this done. We don’t want to stop with the kiosk,” said Molino resident Lil King. “There’s not one person who’s not real busy in a library somewhere?”
“It’s not a dead project, yet,” District 5 Escambia Commissioner Kevin White said. “We are going back to the whole board (of commissioners) to ask for the reallocation of LOST (local option sales tax) funds to finish out the library.” But by law LOST funds can’t be used for daily operation expenses, only construction.
“The key is going to be the library board,” Escambia Administrator Randy Oliver said.
“It’s very dear to my heart that the library happens, ” said Molino resident Pat Rigel. She currently manages the Century Branch Library and is slated to manage the Molino library, if it opens. “I really want to see this work.”
White plans to ask his fellow commissioners for $630,000 in April — $480,000 for building expenses and $150,000 for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The commission is expected to approve a 7,000 square foot addition to the Molino Road school property for a state of the art “green” building for tax collector and tax appraiser offices.
With the change order for the tax collector and tax appraiser, county officials anticipate putting the renovations and construction at the Old Molino School property out for bids in mid-May, with construction beginning around August. The projects would have an anticipated completion date of December, 2012.
In May, 2009, commissioners approved the $400,000 purchase of the Old Molino School building from the Escambia County School District. Commissioners have since approved a budget of $2,089,156 from Local Option Sales Tax monies for the renovation project, including $214,580 to DAG Architects to design the renovations.
Pictured top: David Wheeler, Escambia County Facilities Management deputy bureau chief, explains renovation plans for the Old Molino School during a community meeting Tuesday night at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured top inset: Lil King of Molino speaks in favor of the library. Pictured bottom inset: County Administrator Randy Oliver explains the library funding problems as County Engineer Joy Blackmon listens. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
19 Responses to “Future Of Molino Library Remains Uncertain; Tax Collector, Appraiser Moving Offices To Molino”
This is a gOod idea I know plenty of kids who want a library I am only 15 and I can do the math. We should donate stuff
why dont youl make the school like Barrineau park it has blue grass &gospal
music its is a lot of fun over thair and ever bidey goes to that good music and its a pack house over thair dont knock it till you try it
Why not both? Isn’t the school big enough for both ?
Molino needs a library as has been planned .
Been living here all my life and I love this part of Escambia county. Have seen many come and go. Growing up we had wonderful times together. We didn’t even think the county should provide a place for us to go. But look what we have now. We have boat landings that are cared for. We have a place to go for picnics and swimming on Perdido and a ballpark the people began years ago with the money made selling refreshments at the Molino School ball fields with no bathrooms and a locked school. There are play ground areas and our churches provide food boxes for the needy so rest assured we will have our library. There
are ways to get what we need and desire. It will take alot of hard work and support of our community. But we will get it.
I’m sorry but I would just like to know WHAT HAPPENED TO the library
that the kids could hang out in and do things on computers and
WHY if they don’t get that is there still money to build more on this property
for the new tax appraisers office.
IS this just like the lottery…..what ever it was done for…..the kids were
not part of it. LIES LIES LIES.
DAGB
Maybe we just will.
I can tell you this I’m not broke which is more than I can say for our government.
I’m all for the KIDS. Thats who’s side I’m on. I would like to see them
get things that this town could actually pay for and maintain and have
permanently. NO PIPE DREAM!
These kids don’t want a mansion, they want somewhere to do something
decent. It is my understanding that this was supposed to be a library
with computers and blah, blah, blah. NOW what is it?
Doesn’t that say anything about we just couldn’t afford it. hummmmmmmmmmm
If you don’t get, that if you want something you have to stay within your
budget because someone sometime is going to have to pay the payments, then I don’t know what to say to you.
There are a lot of people here who can’t pay more ON ANYTHING, than they
already ARE, especially some of your parents who are on S.S.
Why in the world did this project have to be so grandiose that it now can’t
be done and the kids won’t have any decent place to hang.
Horrific- Which side of the fence are you going to get on? Depend on yourselves, stand up do this do that. Scroll up Horrific – This is a poor town nothing but trouble, why bother putting money into it. Your taxes are going to go up- SO WHAT if it pays for something that they can enjoy so be it. Next election why don’t you and DHG run for a seat since you have all the sense and answers.
Washington,…… Molino…….., it’s screwed up as bad as a chickensoup sandwich……..
this is so discouraging…as a matter of fact it is sickening.
The sad part is…..
This town can not and never could afford project!
He is asking for over $600,000.00 to complete this project without
what he promised this building was going to be and with out the
funds now to even start the rebuilding of this building for your
library. IF you ever GET a LIBRARY do you people realize how much
those TAX APPRAISERS ARE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES THEN.
WHERE DO YOU THINK ALL THIS MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM
FOR ALL THESE BIG BEAUTIFUL PIPE DREAMS FOR A TOWN THAT
IS BROKE AND GETTING BROKER ALL THE TIME.
YOU WHO ARE SCREAMERS ABOUT HAVING TO PURCHASE
YOUR CHILDRENS SCHOOLS SUPPLIES BECAUSE YOUR SO BROKE.
EVEN A TOWN NEEDS TO LEARN TO NOT SPEND MONEY BEFORE
THEY EVEN GET IT.
Another sad day for the north end but what else is new? Oh yes, we are getting a “green” building for the county offices. Sorry that the children, older people and people who just like to read will not get what they were promised but isn’t this just the way it usually works out? I agree that it’s time for Kevin White to find another job. Maybe voting time will take care of this problem.
Do any of you feel HAD yet.
I know one thing…..
The tax appraisers officer shouldn’t even be discussed until you have
your FUNDS FIGURED OUT FOR THE LIBRARY.
TELL THEM WHEN THE LIBRARYS DONE….THEN AND ONLY THEN
ARE THEY TO EVEN DISCUSS BUILDING ANYTHING FOR THE
TAX OFFICES.
THIS WHOLE BUILDING WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT
FOR A LIBRARY FOR THE TOWN OF MOLINO. $400,000.00 OF YOUR
MONEY WAS SPENT.
DON’T LET THEM SPEND ANOTHER CENT OF YOUR MONEY
TILL YOU GET THAT LIBRARY.
Rob from PETER to pay Paul……take everything that was in the north end and move it closer to Pensacola…the reason for sub-stations is convenience for the people served. That is been shot down..BIG TIME…………Everybody, drive 25 or more miles to to a tax collectors office, instead 10-15 miles for everyone. Century office should have never been closed…CONVENIENCE “I THINK NOT”.
The new tax office will be built on the property of the complex. Currently they rent. It will not be within the old building. The property is nine acres so there is plenty of room for it.
Do not give up – we are not letting this go until the central part of the county has a finished building.
So we wanted a library and instead we get a tax office, guess that’s all they wanted the school for. When asked if volunteers could expedite some of the work needed the answer was “no”. Now I see why so many people don’t care anymore. What happened to the “government of the people, for the people and by the people”????
Why bother to ask White about anything, just recall him. If they can’t do their jobs they should step down right now. Handling a budge of this size is FIRST and FOREMOST. There is no EXCUSE FOR OVER SPENDING ON ANYTHING
ANYMORE, WE HAVE ALL SEEN THIS COMING. They were spending
exorbanent amounts of money on things that would build a monument that you don’t need. What you need and you
ALL know it, is a place for your kids to hangout and learn and do something
constructive in this little crap town that has nothing decent for them to do
except get in trouble.
You need a commissioner who has comon sense AND actually cares about District 5, it’s people, it’s children and its FUTURE.
YOU DON’T NEED ANOTHER AMERICAN ROAD TO NOWHERE!!!!!!
DON’T DEPEND ON ANYONE ELSE. DEPEND YOURSELVES.
If you want lower taxes , demand less from the government.
So in a nut shell, the BOCC is saying that your (Molino’s) property tax dollars mean squat! The commission will gladly take your money; however in return Molino will receive few if any services like most of the entire “Northend” above County Road 196. For commissioner White, how about tell the folks in the upper end of district five just how much tax revenue the county collects from property owners and then turn around and show them how much money is actually spent (and don’t include LOST funds on roads, parks, and the Molino School either.