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Board approves teen center in Freeport, reserves FTEs and plans to use Crosspoint space when vacated
Summary
Walton County authorized creation of a teen center in Freeport, approved setting aside three FTE slots to staff the center when needed, and agreed the county library can use the Crosspoint building once that tenant relocates.
Walton County commissioners approved three related library motions on Tuesday that advance a planned teen-focused facility in Freeport and reserve staffing and funding options to support it.
What the board approved: Library Director Katie Cerise asked the board to set aside space and to proceed with build-out of a teen center in a vacant unit at the Freeport Commons, adjacent to Crosspoint’s facility. The board voted to proceed with the teen center, to reserve (but not immediately fund) three FTE positions that would staff the center when it opens, and to designate the Crosspoint facility for library use when Crosspoint moves to its own building.
Funding and timing: Cerise said the tentative county budget included money to prepare the teen center, and Friends of the Freeport Public Library donated $26,000 toward build-out. County staff said the physical build-out could be completed within about 90 days absent supply delays, and Cerise suggested a late-spring opening depending on construction and furnishings. Commissioners approved a motion to allow the library to roll excess library account funding at fiscal-year end into the project if needed and to return to the board for authorized staffing when the library is ready to hire.
Facilities and program plans: The teen space will house technology, small study areas and maker equipment similar to main-library offerings — virtual-reality stations, gaming-capable computers, tablets, hotspots, 3-D printers, laser engravers and coding/robotics tools. Cerise said policies already in place govern minors’ use of library facilities and that children under a certain age must be accompanied by an adult; the teen center would have entry and parent lounges to accommodate guardians.
Board discussion: Commissioners and members of the public, including youth speakers and a library advisory member, expressed support. The board also discussed nearby planning-office space and confirmed other county offices could relocate within the same complex when Crosspoint vacates.
Ending: The board approved the motions by voice vote and asked for periodic updates on the build-out timeline and on any future staffing requests.
