Farmington Seeks Bids For New Library

FARMINGTON — The city of Farmington is ready to advertise for bids to turn a former pizza restaurant into the new Farmington Public Library.

“I’m excited,” said Melissa McCarville, city business manager. “This is going to be a really nice addition to the city.”

The City Council voted on April 29 to purchase the former Pizza Breadeaux building and the lot next door for $ 330,000 for a new library. The city paid for the building and land with $ 200,000 from the general reserve fund and a $150,000 donation from Betty Hummel, chairwoman of the Farmington Library Board.

Last week, the council approved a request to seek bids to renovate the 4,258-square-foot building, located at 175 Cimarron Place across from the Farmington U.S. Post Office. The city will open bids Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Architectural drawings by Key Architecture of Fayetteville show that the new library will have a large children’s area, a large area for adult books, computer stations, reading areas and a new L-shaped information counter. Other amenities will be separate men’s and women’s restrooms, water fountains and a librarian’s office. Library employees will have a separate bathroom, break room, workroom and storage area.

The architectural firm estimates the renovation will cost $45,203, which includes the cost of tearing down interior walls, new carpet, new tile, new doors, paint and finishes. The library will use $70,000 in its reserve fund for the renovation.

In addition, the city recently received a $10,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation to purchase new shelving, furnishings, laptops and a laptop station.

Hummel said she is excited that the plans for the new library are moving forward.

“Several people have looked at the plans and are satisfied with them,” Hummel said, noting that the library will have a much larger area for its weekly children’s story-time, along with more shelves for books.

She expressed her appreciation for the support from city staff in cleaning out the building and working on the renovation plans.

In other action on Aug 12, the council voted 5-3 to rezone 2.6 acres from residential (R-1) to multi-family. The land includes property at 391 S. Hunter St., and an adjacent 2.42 acres. Coun- cil members Keith Lipford, Terry Yopp and Bobby Morgan voted against the rezoning request made by property owner Eugene H. Gynne Jr. The developer has indicated tentative plans to build duplexes for senior citizens.

After the meeting, Yopp and Morgan both said they voted against the request from a safety standpoint.

“I don’t think it’s safe in that area for traffic,” Yopp said.

Morgan added that South Hunter already has traffic from duplexes in the area and another development would increase traffic on the road.

In other business, the council approved a request to add Brad Morgan as a volunteer firefighter and increased the salary for the assistant librarian’s position.