Local leaders meet with state legislators about project
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White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner, Rep. Will Wade, Rep. Stan Gunter, Commissioner Terry Goodger and Sheriff Rick Kelley meet at the State Capitol on Monday. (Photo/submitted)
by Samantha Sinclair
White County News
White County officials discussed funding for a new library with state legislators Monday.
Chairman Travis Turner, Commissioner Terry Goodger and Sheriff Rick Kelley met with local legislators including State Sen. Steve Gooch, State Sen. Bo Hatchett, State Rep. Stan Gunter and State Rep. Will Wade.
White County has already applied for a $3 million grant in capital outlay funding for the project, and, Goodger said, White County’s request is the top priority on the state’s list of requests for public libraries due to it including a central branch for the Northeast Georgia Regional Library.
But, because it will include a central branch, an extra 2,200 square feet is needed to support it.
Goodger said he and Turner requested in person on Monday an additional $1 million for the project from state appropriations. He had sent a letter to legislators at the end of the calendar year initially requesting the additional funds.
“We got a good, positive response from it,” Goodger said of the meetings.
The total project cost is estimated to be $8.572 million. The remainder of funding is expected to come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, funds.
Goodger said he worked on the amount and plan with Georgia Public Library Service Assistant Vice Chancellor-Planning and Programs Nate Rall and Northeast Georgia Regional Library System Director Delana Knight.
The library will be a two-story, 20,000 square feet building placed on the back of the lot at 506 N. Main St., where the new White County Tax Commissioner’s Office is located. Goodger said the building will be two stories to accommodate parking on the lot without having to go across the creek.
He said the lot is already prepped and graded.
“It’s basically ready to go,” Goodger said. “All we need is the funding.”
Goodger said funding from the state should arrive in July, but said Wade told him its possible funds could arrive earlier.
Goodger was hopeful construction could start in Spring 2025.
The White County Commission approved BCA Studios as the architect for the project in May. Charles Black Construction is managing the construction of the project.
In addition, discussions with legislators touched upon the impact of the new inland port on Ga. 365, particularly its effects on White County, as well as the necessity for the state to address mental illness issues.