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Library group pitches 10–12K sq ft maker space; jury agrees to consider land donation
Summary
Library representatives told the DeSoto Parish Police Jury they plan a 10,000–12,000 sq ft maker space with eight studios (including AI, robotics, culinary and drone pilot training). Presenters said the library would fund the purchase; jurors asked for site plans, acreage details (roughly 2.5 acres) and staffing and were told a formal site plan will be provided for consideration.
Library representatives asked the DeSoto Parish Police Jury to approve discussion and potential land donation that would allow the library board to build a maker space designed to provide workforce and technical training.
The presenters described an approximately 10,000–12,000-square-foot facility with eight studios, offering music and video production, sewing and textile work, culinary instruction, robotics and circuitry labs, an AI studio and a drone training room where participants could pursue pilot licensing. They said the project aims to give local high-school students and residents vocational and technical credentials and would include curriculum partnerships with the school board.
Jurors asked where the facility would be located. Presenters said they are targeting a site near the airport, across the road from the airport property, and estimated they would need about 2.5 acres to accommodate the building and parking. The presenters said the library would fund acquisition and the facility, and they offered to provide full architect drawings and a site plan to jurors for review.
Administration told jurors the police jury’s role would be to consider granting permission for the library to use or acquire parish property; staff said they would confer with architects and return to the jury with a proposed site shape and recommendations before any formal vote. Jurors asked for copies of the full proposal and for the library to email conceptual designs so members could review them ahead of a future regular meeting.
Jurors did not adopt a final ordinance at the special meeting; staff said they would prepare recommended documents for an upcoming regular meeting if jurors want to move forward after reviewing the site plan and budget.
