Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Grant Given To Build Library

In his final term as state senator, Mike Ross fought to get $1 million for Prescott so a new library could be built.

A new library was one of the top stories in the area in 1999.

Ross, who also announced candidacy for the Fourth Congressional District House of Representatives race, began working to get the money during the meeting of the General Assembly.

The bill was co-sponsored by state representatives Percy Malone and Sandra Rodgers.

Initially, Ross was trying to get $1.5 million in grant money the state had available for capital improvements. This money is normally used for community projects.

The legislature passed the measure, but cut the amount down to $1 million.

A formal announcement was made in the community room at Christus St. Michael Health Center, which was packed for the news.

Only two other projects received more money than Prescott, he said, at the meeting.

Ross said he wanted to do something special for the county as this was his final session as state senator because of term limits.

Ross, Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown and Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor had "kitchen table" discussions on what was most needed.

All agreed a new library topped the list, with the understanding an interlocal agreement would be required making it a joint city-county venture, and not just a county-owned library.

Both the Prescott City Council and Nevada County Quorum Court approved the interlocal agreement.

From there a city library board was created to work with the existing county board.

The city, though, was required to provide land for the construction of the library. Several locations were examined, with the list cut down to just a few. However, a final site has not been determined at this time.

Ross explained it would take about two years before the city actually received the money to begin construction.

"We're not just talking about a library," he said. The facility will be used as a gathering place for people of the community, offer a computer center for public use and could be used to display a variety of artistic exhibits.

"This can revitalize downtown," Ross said. "We can use this as an anchor and bring businesses back by bringing people to the downtown area."

With everything but a location in place for the library, rumors began circulating about where it would be built.

These rumors caused some business people a good deal of concern, before being dispelled by Taylor.

A story was circulated saying the library would be constructed on the site of Simple Simon's Pizza, George's and East Side Cleaners. Word was these businesses had been condemned and were going to be torn down.

However, the owners involved said they had not been contacted other than in a cursory manner, and nothing had been said about the buildings being condemned.

Taylor said he'd also heard the rumors, but added they had no substance.

In the meantime, the search for a building site continues for the new library.