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Board directs staff to pursue MOU and preliminary design for a new Fletcher Library
Summary
After a presentation on usage and facility constraints at the Fletcher branch, the Board asked county staff and the county attorney to work with the Town of Fletcher to draft a memorandum of understanding, and requested a preliminary programming and cost estimate from an architectural partner to explore a new Fletcher Library.
Library Director Trina Rushing told the Board April 15 that Fletcher Library is the library system's oldest branch and remains the busiest even though it is smaller than other branches. Rushing presented usage and facility indicators showing constrained collection space, limited quiet rooms, insufficient program capacity, accessibility concerns in lower levels, and inadequate electrical and networking infrastructure. The library's estimated service population was cited as roughly 20,000, with Fletcher town population about 8,251.
Board members discussed prior studies dating back to 2005 and noted that the Town of Fletcher may offer land and possible funding toward a replacement branch, but no formal commitments have been made. County Manager John Mitchell summarized the Board's direction as asking him and the county attorney to work with Fletcher representatives to prepare a written outline (MOU) of the town's potential commitments and to request a preliminary programming document and cost estimate from a partner architectural firm. The Board reached consensus on that approach; no formal motion was made.
What happens next: Staff will coordinate with the Town of Fletcher on an MOU framework and obtain a high-level program and rough cost estimate to inform any future RFQ or budget decisions. The Board indicated it may consider an RFQ for detailed design if preliminary numbers justify moving forward.
