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Prattville mayor announces library reopening; council and residents press for long-term plan and transparency
Summary
The mayor told the council the Prattville library reopened after storm-related repairs but emphasized the reopening is temporary. Councilors discussed long-term solutions, and a resident who spoke during public comment urged greater transparency about library spending and staffing.
Mayor announced at the March 2025 council meeting that the Prattville library is "officially back open" after storm-related work and said city crews and a structural engineer declare the building safe for public occupancy.
Councilor Whaley characterized the work as a temporary measure, saying "I would not use the word fix if I was speaking. It is a temporary opportunity for us to get the library back open." He and the mayor said longer-term options — including relocation or more substantial repairs — are still under consideration. Whaley noted a previously discussed long-term repair had been estimated at "about a half a million" dollars.
Resident Jackie Nicks spoke during public comment, thanked officials for getting the library open, and urged the council to use its "power of the purse" to hold the library system accountable for expenditures and transparency. Nicks said she found no announcement of the reopening on the library's website or social media and called the "lack of transparency... very concerning."
The mayor said the city will continue to monitor the building, review it over the next six months, and evaluate longer-term options. He told the council he has discussed ideas privately and that "everything is on the table." The council encouraged the public to support the library through donations and volunteers while the city and county continue discussions about the facility's future.
No formal council action to relocate or permanently alter library governance was taken at the meeting; councilors said more study and public discussion will follow.
