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Library director briefs commissioners on August opening of new Gray branch, grant match requests
Summary
The library director said the new Gray branch will open in August with about double the footprint, requested staffing increases and part‑time hires, and listed anticipated LSTA grant matches for computers and Ethernet/security installation.
Library Director Richard Griffith told the Washington County Board of Commissioners the new Gray library branch is scheduled to open in August and that the request before the commission reflects the larger facility footprint, additional staffing needs and capital grant matches.
Griffith said the Gray facility will roughly double the library’s square footage and will require more part‑time staff; the budget request includes competitive pay for a new director and a 3% pay increase for full‑ and part‑time staff. He said the children's collection space alone in the new branch is about the same size as the entire Jonesboro collection and that custodial and maintenance needs increase with the larger facility.
Griffith said the library plans to apply for a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant that would provide matching funds for new computers and for Ethernet/security camera installation; the requested county match is $20,000 for computers (50/50 match) and a smaller match for Ethernet wiring (top grant ~20% match). He said vendor JE Green is installing conduit and boxes, and BCTI provided a quote for Ethernet installation.
Why it matters: the new branch will increase library capacity and service demand; the county match for anticipated grants is included as a capital request and could be offset if grant awards are received.
Discussion vs. decision: commissioners asked whether nearby municipalities contribute; Griffith said Jonesboro provides a small special appropriation (about $13,005) and that Johnson City does not currently contribute to county library operations. No formal vote or appropriation was taken at the workshop.
Ending: Library staff will continue grant applications and staffing recruitment; commissioners will consider the capital match requests during further budget deliberations.
