Plan announced to locate N. Hall library in Clermont

GAINESVILLE - No sooner had the Hall County Commission okayed the contract for contstruction of the North Library-Community Center and Park on Nopone Road Thursday night, than a wrinkle developed.

Commissioner Ashley Bell and commissioners-elect Craig Lutz and Scott Gibbs, both of whom take office in January, say they will begin an attempt in early January to have the library built in Clermont.

Lutz confirmed that late Thursday night.

The former Flowery Branch City Councilman says he believes the current commission performed a "bait and switch," telling people what they wanted to hear (build the library in Clermont) to get the SPLOST referendum okay for fundng for the library and then moved the library to Nopone Road. That's something the commission has denied.

"I believe that there is nothing more sacred in our representative democracy than the ballot box," Lutz said. "While the SPLOST ballot did not specifically state that the library would be in Clermont, I was a witness at a couple of meetings with the commission (I was a member of the Flowery Branch City Council at the time) during SPLOST negotiations when the library was referenced as the 'Clermont Library'. I believe that the commission performed a bait and switch. They told the citizens what they wanted to hear to get the referendum passed, and then moved the library. I plan to keep the promise made to the voters."

Earlier in the evening, the commission approved a $9.73 million contract Thursday night for construction of the North Hall Park and Community Center-Library on Nopone Road one day after getting the go-ahead from Hall County Superior Court Judge C. Andrew Fuller. (Commissioners also approved a two-installment plan for the payment of county property taxes. See below.)

Grading work is already under way, and the remaining construction will begin within the next two weeks.

Bids for the library-community center construction, which were opened Oct. 26, were $1.64 million under the SPLOST project budget.

"The terrific price validates our decision to move forward with North Hall Park while construction and land costs are low. Plus, this provides work to our local businesses. There is a silver lining to this dark economic climate," Chairman Tom Oliver said Thursday night.

A bid award for construction on the community center-library was postponed by a lawsuit filed by the Town of Clermont in April. Judge Fuller issued a ruling on Wednesday that allows the county to move forward with library construction at the Nopone Road site, saying that the county is not obligated to build the library in Clermont.

North Hall Park, the community center and library are one-cent sales tax projects approved by the voters for central North Hall. The commission voted on the Nopone Road site in February.

"The Nopone Road location is the most beneficial to the majority of North Hall residents, and to all our taxpayers," Oliver said.

The first phase of North Hall Park will include four Little League baseball fields, a running track, walking trails, multipurpose field, and a children's play area.

Future phases include more a recreational lawn, sports fields, hiking/bicycling trails and natural areas. The Community Center, which will share the building with the library, includes basketball courts, fitness center, indoor walking track, community rooms, a game room, showers and lockers.

Beyond books, the Library will feature a coffee shop, a special children's reading area, meeting rooms and quiet study areas. The park is expected to open in early 2012.

TWO-INSTALLMENT TAX PAYMENT PLAN

County property owners have the option to pay taxes in two installments starting with the 2011 tax year. The commission voted Thursday night to change from one to two due dates, following the results of a referendum by the voters on Nov. 2.

County Tax Commissioner Keith Echols will mail a tax bill on Aug. 1 that includes two payment coupons. The first installment will be due Oct. 1, at which time at least half of the total must be paid. Late payments accrue interest of one percent per month. The remainder is due Dec. 1. If the entire amount is not paid by Dec. 1, a 10 percent penalty will be charged after 90 days, in addition to one percent interest per month.

Penalties and interest for Hall County property taxes are set by state law, unlike municipal taxes. The City of Gainesville allows taxpayers the option to pay in two installments, but the first due date is not mandatory. The Oct. 1 due date will be mandatory for Hall County taxpayers.