The Totem Tackles the Library Truths

Greetings all:
If the BOC continues to pursue the termination of the lease for the Moyock Church/Library/Vistors Center then I plan to make tonight the following presentation in regards to the agenda item regarding the leased facility. I am doing this in an attempt to put the idea of a leased facility back on the table as an alternative. An alternative that will give the county time to properly plan this needed facility and identify funding sources that will not necessitate a tax increase as it is apparent the current proposal might. I hope you understand my position on this issue and ask you to comment back to me any criticism or suggestions you might have.Thanks to each of you for your concern, interest and work you do to help make Currituck a better place.
Best Regards,
Owen Etheridge

MOYOCK LIBRARY CLAIMS vs FACTS

CLAIM: Library Temporary - available for only two years after renovation >>>and Lease Rate increases $6,000 per year.
FACT: Initial Lease Length is three years, with two additional two year >>>options. Initial Lease Rate for 3,293 square feet, is $26,344 per year >>>for the entire length of the first term of three years. The first two >>>year rate is set at $32,930 per year and the second two year term is set >>>at $39,516. These rates are set in the lease contract. These lease >>>rates when compared to other square foot commercial lease rates in Moyock >>>represent a sizable savings. The rate goes up only twice in seven years >>>at the beginning of each renewal option if so exercised.>>>>>>
CLAIM: Costs have increased due to lack of Proper Due Diligence.>>>>>>
FACT: Any increased costs realized to date are a result of Proper Due >>>Diligence not the lack of, as claimed. During the normal course of >>>renovations as anyone would expect, items were discovered. The cost to >>>repair structural issues is clearly addressed within the lease and is the >>>sole responsibility of the owner and not the county as has been implied.* >>> Termite Damage was found to be a major cause and is the responsibility >>>of the owner. *Refer to Lease Contract, Clauses 13, 14, & 18 for >>>verification.>>>>>>
CLAIM: Facility not wired for computers.>>>>>>
FACT: The renovation cost included the computer network, wiring and the >>>installation costs for a complete computer setup. The wiring for the >>>computers and the layout for the location of computers is seen in the >>>post-renovation photo and design blueprints. (see plans and photo)>>>>>>
CLAIM: Insulation, Windows do not meet code, and building costly to heat >>>and cool.>>>>>>
FACT: Edmond P. Virgil, RA the architect, placed and sealed the >>>following statement on the renovation plans, “To the best of my knowledge >>>and belief, the design of the building complies with the thermal envelope >>>requirements of the North Carolina State Building Code, Volume X >>>Energy”.(see design blueprints)>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: Lighting not conducive for a Library.>>>>>>
FACT: Edmond P. Virgil, RA the architect reviewed the existing lighting >>>for compliance and where it did not meet the code made necessary >>>adjustments to bring it into compliance. Costs were contained in the >>>renovation contract.(see design blueprints)>>>>>>
CLAIM: Additional Toilet Facilities needed & no handicap bathroom.>>>>>>
FACT: The facility has the required bathrooms included one which was >>>added as a code compliant handicap bathroom.(see design blueprint & >>>post-renovation photo)>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: Parking, 20 spaces only, visiting tourist will crowd out library >>>users.>>>>>>
FACT: Number of Parking Spaces exceeds minimum requirements. >>>Arrangements for large vehicles, RVs, SUVs and any overflow were being >>>negotiated with an adjoining landowner, making the parking comparable to >>>the existing public library in Barco.>>>>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: Size, 1,285 Sq Ft including visitor’s center.>>>>>>
FACT: 1,285 Sq Ft only accounts for the sanctuary area. The building >>>contains a total of 3.293 Sq Ft. The additional 2,008 sq ft apart from >>>the sanctuary was included in the design for this library as planned and >>>useable space similar to the design plan of the proposed newly built >>>library. The first floor renovation plans contain a large children’s >>>room, a new handicap bathroom, large storage room, office and a utility >>>room. Second Floor planned renovations include a work room, storage room >>>and 2 additional offices.>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: New Permanent Library will cost $1,200,000.00>>>>>>
FACT: This estimate from The Design Collaborative of $156 per sq ft is >>>based on a 2005 Suffolk, VA Library bid. The same memo contained the >>>following statement. “We recently bid a 20,000 sq ft library in >>>Chesterfield County outside of Richmond, that came in at $250/sq ft. It >>>has very nice finishes and a lot of high volume space with day lighting >>>from above. I don’t think its really comparable to your project, but it >>>is not out of line with the market today”. Pasquotank County is >>>currently constructing a new library at a cost of a little over $200/sq >>>ft and Chowan County in November 2006 approved a renovation of their >>>existing library with a 5,500 sq ft expansion at a cost of approximately >>>$250/sq ft. There is a major discrepancy between the proposed cost of >>>the new Moyock facility and the actual construction cost of the two new >>>library facilities in our area. Which is correct a hypothetical proposal >>>or actual construction costs?>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: Construction can start in May 2007 with targeted completion date >>>of July 2008>>>>>>
FACT: To date Currituck County has not acquired a deed to either of the >>>proposed donated Library sites. In reality it could be many months >>>before this can take place. Is Currituck County going to undertake >>>extensive engineering studies on both sites in order to prepare all the >>>preliminary detailed site and building plans in order to move forward >>>before the land is actually acquired? Based on my research with various >>>engineers, these studies and design work at a minimum will take at least >>>three months to complete. At that time building, waste water, drainage >>>and any other permits must be applied for. How long will the review >>>process take? We know how long state review of permits is currently >>>taking, months and months. Realistically many months or even a year >>>could lapse before actual construction can begin. Any deviation from the >>>proposed timetable and any delay in construction which will result in the >>>delay of the library's opening, could possibly increase costs.>>>>>>
CLAIM: The prior Board of Commissioners was trying to give Moyock a >>>second class Library Facility.>>>>>>
FACT: It was never the intent of the prior BOC to make the church >>>building a permanent library. It was the intent to begin the delivery of >>>library services in an expeditious and economically feasible manner.>>>The reasons for following this course:>>>1. Combining the library with the visitor’s center , allowed the use of >>>Occupancy Tax Funds to cover renovation and operational costs’ of the >>>facility and prevented tapping into other earmarked important capital >>>expense funds>>>2. The use of the temporary facility would allow the library staff , >>>library trustees and county staff to study and determine the actual needs >>>of a permanent Moyock Library. Doing it this way would allow for the >>>planning and design of this facility to truly reflect what is needed. In >>>other words, design the shoe to fit the foot, instead of trying to make >>>the foot fit the shoe.>>>>>>
CLAIM: $1,200,000.00 was found in the Land Transfer Tax Fund to pay for >>>this.>>>>>>
FACT: I stated at the Moyock Town Meeting, the prior BOC was using >>>occupancy tax funds as allowed under the restrictions of the law ,in >>>order not to take away funds from another future building project that >>>these funds can not be used for. As we now apparently know, the 1.2 >>>million is coming at the expense of another project. The possible need >>>for a tax increase is only one of the possible results of “finding this >>>1.2 million”. This might not be necessary had there not been a “Sudden >>>Rush to Judgment” to halt/eliminate ongoing capital projects within the >>>first week of being in power. Capital Projects that had been studied and >>>planned, with the funding sources identified within current revenues and >>>used in a prudent efficient manner.>>>>>>>>>>>>
CLAIM: The permanent library is what Moyock needs.>>>>>>
FACT: There has not been a thorough, responsible analysis performed to >>>determine what might be needed in a permanent Moyock Library. The plan >>>for the new facility is based on Virginia Beach libraries. With all due >>>respect to Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach is not Moyock. It is important >>>a Moyock library reflect Moyock and it's residents needs, not Virginia >>>Beach. Before we even consider adding another expensive capital project >>>which may result in increasing all Currituck resident's taxes, , a >>>thorough analysis of Moyock's library needs should be undertaken. Too >>>rush these determinations to meet an arbitrary, politically motivated >>>timetable is not fiscally responsible given a funded, temporary option is >>>almost immediately available at far less cost and if we do not utilize >>>it, we are simply throwing away app. $150,000.