The Rappahannock County Public Library Board of Trustees last Thursday reviewed the pros and cons of two proposals: renovating the existing library and relocating to Rush River Commons.
If a renovation were approved, the current library’s children’s area and meeting room would be expanded and the building would be made handicap accessible for $3.5 million, the trustees’ designer said.
The presentation came two days after the library board released its potential lease with Black Kettle, the company backed by philanthropist Chuck Akre that owns Rush River Commons. The board is slated to vote on the lease at its Oct. 29 meeting.
“I think this presentation finally answers my biggest problem because you’ve got both sides of the issue,” said Rand Beers of Boston. “As long as you only have one option on the table, that draws all the fire.”
The renovation concept presented by Gil Entzminger, the library’s longtime architect, was constrained by a $3.5 million budget — a combination of the board’s entire general fund and two anonymous pledges. Entzminger said the 4,900 square-foot building could be renovated and expanded to the east by 1,300 square feet.
“We’re trying to establish what can you build for $3.5 million at the existing site,” Entzminger said. “Then comparing that expansion to what you might be able to gain as new construction in the Rush River development.”
A renovated library would have 6,500 square feet of usable space, including a portion of its unfinished basement where utility systems would be housed. If renovated, the library would have to close for 12 to 16 months, Entzminger said.
The Rush River library, by contrast, would have between 9,000 and 9,900 square feet of usable space. The current library would remain open while the Rush River library is built.
The board had been considering a larger renovation of the current library since a 2021 community survey, but began entertaining a move this year after deciding it couldn’t raise enough funds to stay. The $6.5 million plan, which would have expanded the library to 9,000 square feet, would cost $7 million to $8 million today, Entzminger said.
Board Vice President John Beardsley added that using all of the board’s general fund would leave the library “without much of a cushion” if a large expense arose. A substantial portion of the $3.5 million is made up of money “promised” by anonymous donors, but not “in hand,” he said.
(Courtesy/Rappahannock County Library Board of Trustees)
Two members of the public said they wanted to see the cost of utilities and upkeep at the current library versus at the Rush River library.
“I think many people are not going to go through a 40-page lease agreement,” said Flint Hill resident Bill Nenninger, who is treasurer of Friends of the Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the library.
Board member Michael Chamowitz emphasized that the library would only be responsible for utilities and a maintenance fee at the proposed Rush River library.
“We’re sort of like in a condominium,” he said. “We have to take care of the inside of the building, but the outside of the building is taken care of by whoever is the developer of the area. So if the roof starts leaking, it’s not our problem, except that we have to get buckets to hold the water.”
Board member Patti Peterson said the board did not yet have an estimate for the cost of utilities at a Rush River library.
“We’re very conscious of that,” she said.
Board member Kit Johnston asked Entzminger if he had any concerns about a public library not owning its building. “Not with an 80-year lease, I think it’s a pretty good deal,” he replied.
The meeting saw far fewer attendees and seemed to have a more cordial tone than recent library board meetings. About 20 members of the public stayed through the public comment period, after which nearly everyone stood up and left.
