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Show press association UTAH 307 A ALT W c 200 LArE j iTTrt CITY 500A jjr 541 Oi VOLUME 65 NUMBER 17 500 WEDNESDAY JUNE 5, 1996 COLOR COUNTRY'S HOME TOWN NEWSPAPER ac 'w Razing public awareness on old 4? rr s library building By Dixie Brunner To tear down or leave stand-ing-this the question. Is it nobler to bite the financial bullet and leave the old library building intact, or tear it down saving taxpayers untold dollars? Kanab City has found that cost and liability may outweigh nobility. The librarys fate will be decided at the June 1 1 Kanab City Council meeting. The old building located by the Middle School at 13 South, 100 East, is an insurance at companys nightmare. Erected in 1939, the building has obvious exterior cracks, coupled with a treacherous, crumbling sidewalk and entryway. Besides being in significant disrepair, the building didnt meet federal handicap standards. Kanab Citys insurance pool, Utah Risk Management Mutual Association, informed the city in October 1994, that they didnt feel that the library was worth the risk of being open. Specif- trance access and downstairs restroom facilities. They said that the violations could result in serious liability for the city if a complaint was filed by an employee or patron. Due to the liability risk, the library was moved from the old building to a new temporary home in the Barco building. A 1995 study said that the total estimated restoration cost of the old library would be approximately $ 147,732. Councilwoman Macy Burgin says that she worries whetheryounger Kanab taxpayers will appreciate their tax dollars being spent on the older building. While many people appreciate older architecture and see the value of preserving it, some feel the old library isnt particularly attractive. "Im not sure of what I think should be done with it, says Kanab City Librarian Marolyn Watson, who worked in the building for many years. "Its not that pretty a building. Parking at the old library buildically, URMMA cited the ing is limited and shared with a buijdings numerous ADA veiy crowded middle school lot (Americans with Disabilities) The Kanab Middle School uses violations, including limited en the majority of the lot Proponents The issue of renovating and maintaining the old library building or demolishing it is in the hands of the city council. The fate of the building will be decided at the next city council meeting on June 1 1. say that parking difficulties could be worked out with teamwork. Security presents another issue for utilization of the building. Police Chief Doug Crosby says that while he doesnt have a strong opinion on the buildings fate, he feels certain security issues need to be addressed. Because of the way it is situated, officers have to get out of their vehicles to patrol the building. The save the library group feels that all these hurdles can be addressed. Resident Jo Smith said the Heritage Council has A little history on the old library Editors note-Th- e followingwas Forest, and with a WPA crew, taken from the History of Kane cut enough lumber for the brary building and enough more to sell to get money to buy doors, The former library building windows and etc. The city still came into being as a result of didnt have enough money to dedicated citizens efforts. In buy bricks, so they built a brick 1938, during the depression, kiln in the northeast cove of men needed work and various Kanab. Frank Hamblin Jr. were needed to em- - signed from the city council to ploy them. The city council take charge of both the lumber submitted plans to the W.P.A and the brick projects. Enough for a library building project- - bricks were made, not only to which was approved, the build the library, but enough W.PJL to furnish all labor, more to sell for needed cash, the city to provide a buidling Builder Mark Pope was hired A cash. and to supervise the construction, necessary spot bond election held in the fall A sturdy building was allowing the city to structed at a total cost to Kanab float an $8,000 bond to be used City of $8,000. The Ebrary was The library building has limited handicap accessibility, as evidenced by the for necessary cash. moved from the room in the crumbling steps and second floor entrance. The Kanab City Council had to council leased the The city court house to the new building move the library out of this building due to insurance risks. A group of local Johnson sawmill on the Kaibab on February. 12, 1940. from demolition re-proje- secured a grant to pay for 12 of the cost of roof repair. Smith suggests the city use the building for a museum, light industry, or even revenue, by selling it and bringing money into the city coffers. "It (the library) could, if necessary, be mothballed, securely closed until a future time when a use is identified, added Smith. The library stands as a monu-me- nt to the craftsmanship, teamwork and community pride of Kanabs early builders, says Jo Smith. It is the last remaining public building representing our heritage, a link with the past which represents something money cannot buy. KANAB WEATHER MayJune : con-passe- d, citizens are fighting to save the library May Precip - .45" Courtesy : Frank Swapp Family |