BRADENTON BEACH – Supporters of the Tingley Memorial Library received some hopeful news during the April 16 city commission meeting.
The hopeful news came in the form of potential financial assistance from Manatee County to help cover the cost of the necessary library repairs.
During the April 16 city commission meeting, Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chairperson Tal Siddique said he planned to present a proposal to the county commission on May 5, asking for the county to provide funding for the library.
“My general suggestion would be to bring this to my board to take on the capital expenditures for the library repairs,” Siddique said.
During the March 18 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby said the library building needs repairs in the $230,000 to $250,000 range. The needed repairs include the replacement of the stairs, the entrance ramp and the air conditioning system.
The library is located at 111 Second Street North and is located in the CRA district. The library building and the land it occupies are owned by the city.
“After speaking to the librarian and the community, my suggestion would be this remain a city property,” Siddique said.
He suggested the county would take over building maintenance in perpetuity, including capital expenditures. Siddique said the county library system could enter into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bradenton Beach and the county could augment the library programming and provide staff and support operations.
“The foundation can transition to a Friends of the Library-type foundation so you’re funding book collection purchases and other small things,” Siddique said.
City commissioners have discussed various options that include the city selling the library to the CRA, which would then allow the separate CRA funds to be used to make repairs. There has also been discussion about raising the library building and installing a paid parking lot underneath it.
Built in 1994, the Tingley Memorial Library was funded by a bequest of more than $500,000 made by benefactor Beulah Tingley, whom the library is named after. The bequeath funds the library operations conducted by one paid staff member and several volunteers. In March, City Treasurer Shayne Thompson said the remaining bequeath fund balance was $130,000.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
Before Siddique announced he would pursue county funding, City Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said, “The library is the heart of our community. Our library is used, loved and a necessary part of our community. We function on a wing and a prayer because our bequeath from Beulah Tingley is starting to run out and we are in desperate need of help. We’ve put out letters for donations. Our discussion today is about saving our library.”
“I think we need to do everything we can to try to save the library,” Mayor John Chappie added.
City Commissioner Robert Talham asked what the population of Bradenton Beach is. Chappie said the most recent U.S. Census listed a population of 903 people.
“There are 10,000 towns in America with under 1,000 people in their population – 9% of those towns have their own library funded by the people that use it,” Talham said. “I don’t think it should be funded by the CRA. It should be put on the ballot and voted on by the residents – if they want their taxes raised to fund the library.”
In response, Scaccianoce said, “Regardless of how many permanent residents we have, we have a population that multiplies tenfold during season, and those people use our library. That library is part of this community. I have been in communication with Manatee County. Commissioner Siddique is part of those conversations and is working out what kind of help they can provide us.”
Commissioner Scott Bear said he is in favor of transferring ownership of the library building from the city to the CRA.
“We’ve talked about it enough times and we ought to decide whether or not we want to have a library in this community. Judging by the attendance here, we do,” Bear said. “To me, the CRA is the way to do it. We have to label it a library and a community center and we can fund it.”
City Attorney Erica Augello said, “What you need to decide as a commission is what the future looks like for the library and how ongoing funding is going to work irrespective of the capital improvements the county is looking to help out with.”
Scaccianoce said, “I think Tal has made a good faith offer. I think where we’re at right now is to see how much it’s going to cost and get that information to the county. Tal, as chairman of the board, will bring that forward to the BOCC (the county commission) and they will have a conversation about it. Then we’ll find out where we are.”
Cosby said, “The priority is to get these repairs done before the a/c goes out. If that happens, the library is closed. If somebody gets hurt on those stairs, we’re getting sued. It’s as simple as that. If the commissioner (Siddique) can move this along as quickly as he’s saying, that sounds like a plan to me.”
During public comment, former Bradenton Beach Mayor Katie Pierola spoke in favor of saving the library. Pierola served as mayor for six years before her final mayoral term ended in 1995. The city commission chambers are named in her honor.
“Isn’t anything sacred anymore?” she said. “Putting it on the ballot is wrong, because now you’re making it a political thing. I urge you, John Chappie, to make a motion to get the library into the CRA. That’s the only way. That library belongs on the Island forever.”
“We can’t take any action right now,” Chappie said. “Commissioner Siddique has given us a time line on when he’s going to be presenting the items and when he can get back to us. We will have this on the agenda at our next city commission meeting.”
The city commission meets next on Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m.
