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Kerri
Howell
Folsom
Library
As
requested in your letter, I would like to offer the following
commentary regarding the Folsom Library.
Over
the past 4 years, I have served as a member of the Folsom Library
Foundation.
I have been a vocal supporter of the Library, both during my
tenure on the City Council as well as during my tenure on the
Planning Commission.
I was also a vocal supporter of the Library bond campaign.
My most recent commitment to the Library was my arranging for
the Boy Scouts, Pack 94, for assisting in the most recent book sale
(thanks to Susan Douglass for asking and for Jerry Quinn for
arranging their presence).
Over
the last 4 years, I have worked very hard to find two things, 1) a
location at which we could build the library and, 2) options for
funding the library, including discussions with Folsom Lake College,
Intel and Aerojet for both funding and locations.
The City Council ultimately decided that the proposed
location for the Library would be the site of the Fire Station,
adjacent to City Hall.
The Council also determined that the best way to fund the
library was to go forward with the grant application, including its
dependence on passage of the bond.
I supported the grant application, which was subject to
approval of the bond, for submittal to the State.
Unfortunately, the bond did not pass and the grant
application could not be submitted.
Now
it is time to move forward.
I have been working with City Staff on a revised plan for
building a Library that is representative of this community.
That plan includes the construction of a building that is
approximately 25,000 square feet.
That is less than what is suggested by the Office of the
State Librarian.
However, I feel strongly that, with our technology partners,
including Intel and Gencorp (now formerly Aerojet), we can submit a
plan to the State that will be worthy of state grant funding.
By building a smaller facility, taking advantage of
technology and taking advice from our new Director of Library
Services, who has built 14 new libraries, I believe that it is the
responsibility of the City Council to move forward with a plan to
BUILD A LIBRARY in Folsom.
The grant application must go forward to obtain State
funding, to assist in getting the building constructed. I
will continue to work with City Staff, as I have been for several
months, to ensure that we can demonstrate that we can operate and
maintain the facility after it is constructed.
With
all due respect to all of the other candidates, I have been a long
time supporter of the Library, and of finding ways to build a new
library.
I have worked hard and argued for "the cause".
Although we have not always agreed on all issues, I hope that
you understand that nobody will work harder, and none of the
candidates can demonstrate greater commitment to getting this
Library built than I will.
Thank
you for allowing me to share my opinions on how we move forward with
BUILDING A LIBRARY!
Please
feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
You can call me at home, at my office, or at the web site
www.kerrihowell.com.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Kerri
M. Howell, P.E,
Vice Mayor
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