The Allen Parish Library Board and Town of Kinder have been discussing the future of the building that houses the library in Kinder for several months. At its June meeting, the town noted the building had been appraised for $615,000 and had approximately $80,000 in repairs to be made.
Last month, the council discussed the sales tax associated with the library in Kinder. To begin moving forward toward a future sale, there is housekeeping that must be done. At the September meeting, the town will take a step toward moving the library maintenance funds.
It’s going to take some time to see if the library building will be sold. The library board, which consists of four members, will have to seek an appraisal and tally up the repairs needed in the building, if they want to represent their constituents and make some solid financial moves.
Mrs. Linda Thompson, president, said the Allen Parish Libraries Board of Control and Director wanted to thank the city of Kinder for allowing them to use the building to serve the community for over 50 years with library services. She also thanked constituents for their support by levying a tax to help with the upkeep and growth of the library in Kinder.
Thompson said there are more issues at the library that has not been addressed including electrical issues, a leaking roof, a ceiling which needs to be repaired, front windows that need replacement, a door that doesn’t work, water seeping in under baseboard into the building, a floor drain in a staff restroom which overflows when it rains, a need to change the flooring, termite issues, metal from the room that causes issues in the back when it flows into the building and issues with the library’s telephone lines and Internet.
Thompson said Traci Fontenot, town clerk, has assisted them with several of these issues from the termites to the front windows. A difficulty in finding a contractor to make those repairs after Hurricane Laura kept them from being completed.
She wants the citizens to know that the library is there for them. She wants the town to understand repairs on the building must be addressed before the board can purchase the building.
So over the course of the next few months as the housekeeping side of purchasing and the sale of a building between the library board and town occurs, several items will have to be addressed. The town is working on the process, and they are waiting on information.
Thompson said the board is waiting to hear from the town. She also added if anyone has questions or inquiries, to contact the board and/or its directors through the library’s main office in Oberlin.