Avoyelles Police Jury approves Ward 1 library

Ward 1 library patrons will soon be able to find their favorite books closer to home, now that the Library Board and Avoyelles Police Jury have decided on a location for a new library in Effie.

Police Juror Marsha Wiley, who represents Ward 1 and is the jury’s liaison to the Library Board, told jurors at the June 7 agenda-setting session that the Library Board unanimously approved purchasing a pre-fabricated modular building to be located adjacent to Cottonport Bank in Effie.

The jury approved the measure at its regular meeting on June 12.

Cottonport Bank President A.J. Roy III and the parish will enter into a 99-year lease to allow the parish-owned building to sit on the bank’s land at a cost of $1 per year.

The project will be finished within six months.

The 800 sq. ft. building will cost about $40,000. Site preparation and furnishing is budgeted to cost about $35,000.

Under the agreement, the library will be able to tie into the bank’s sewage treatment system. The library will be responsible for running electric and water utilities to the building.

Wiley expressed thanks to Brent and Sherry Dauzat for their offer to renovate and lease space in his former grocery store for use as a Ward 1 library.

In the end, the Library Board decided the advantages of ownership outweighed the flexibility of renting a site.

In other library-related issues, Bunkie City Council has approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Police Jury and Library to allow work at the town-owned building. The drive-through area will be enclosed to allow a multi-purpose room for the community.

Work is almost finished at the Mansura Train Depot, which will be the location for the Mansura library.

Work is also progressing at the Simmesport branch and plans for relocating the Cottonport branch are progressing.

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