Work To Begin On Molino Library, Community Center, County Offices

October 30, 2011

Work is set to begin in just over a week on renovation of the old Molino School into a community center, museum and library, and to construct a new building to house offices for the tax collector and property appraiser.

http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/molinoschooltour99.jpgThe first day of construction at the 9.6 acre campus is set for Monday, November 7, with work set to be completed by November 2, 2012, on the almost $4 million project. The $2.9 million construction portion of the project was awarded to Birkshire Johnstone to be funded with local option sales tax monies. Each of the seven other bidders on the project submitted bids ranging from a $3.03 million to $3.48 million.

The total project includes the conversion of the main 72-year old building into a library, community center and museum. The auditorium will also be renovated and available for public use.

A new 7,000 square foot building will be constructed adjacent to the old building for the tax collector and property appraiser. The current Escambia County Tax Collector office in the former Winn Dixie shopping center in Cantonment will be closed.

Escambia County is ranked number two for a half million dollar state grant for books and furnishings for the new Molino Branch Library. Escambia County will provide a $512,000 match from existing Local Option Sales Tax funds for furniture, fixtures, equipment, computers and books if the $500,000 grant materializes during the next fiscal year.

“It is subject to funding by the legislature.  The resubmission was encouraged by State Division of Libraries who believes the legislature may provide some funding this year,” Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said.  “This is a great opportunity to make a valuable resource better.”

In the event the state does not come through with the half million dollar grant, Oliver said the county has identified some existing furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Molino Branch Library.

Pictured top: A conceptual drawing of the Molino School after renovation. Pictured inset: This end of the old Molino School will be converted into a library.  Pictured below: The old Molino School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Work To Begin On Molino Library, Community Center, County Offices”

  1. cyndisue on November 20th, 2011 1:48 pm

    It’s about time! I can’t wait for the library to open. We go to Century Library now but it is a long way up there esp. during the school year. I would also love to see the track and playground that was there before the school was shut down be refurbished and upgraded! I would be there all of the time esp. during the summer months.

  2. JC on November 1st, 2011 8:07 am

    Hope they put up a tall fence around it and lock it at night before they get started. Might even help if they put barb wire and an electric fence up.

  3. Southerner on October 31st, 2011 11:45 am

    A relatively small percentage of the people in the area may use the library while many , many, non-users are forced to pay for it. Socialism. Buy your own books, DVD’s …..

  4. Trish on October 31st, 2011 11:10 am

    TO bm:

    I hope you enjoy what you find. I know you will meet some amazing people who work there and people who use the facility. I have used all of the branches in the county and personally recommend the Century library until we get our very own in Molino.

    They also have great programs for kids, my granddaughter loves going for activities. Public libraries are nothing like I remember from my school years.

  5. Yellar Hammer on October 31st, 2011 10:54 am

    To bm; may you need the library more than you think to brush up on your grammer.

  6. bm on October 31st, 2011 10:05 am

    Trish : your right I haven’t been in a library since 3rd grade.. I will go thanks for the encouragement.

  7. Trish on October 31st, 2011 9:49 am

    TO bm:

    Evidently you are not a library user, if you were you would know how many people use them. Do you know that libraries not only have books but computers with internet access, books on cd, magazines AND current movies on DVD’s? In this stinking economy you can actually use this amazing facility at NO COST!

    For every opinion there is another person who will not agree with you. So I don’t agree with you. Libraries are great places, visit one and see what you have been missing!

  8. tlad on October 31st, 2011 7:03 am

    I am soooooo looking forward to the opening of the community center. I am hopeful that it will offer exercise classes for seniors and perhaps senior dances. I am also hopeful that the next District 5 County Commissioner will pursue the idea of constructing a pedestrian/bicycle path from one end of 95A to the other with enforced restriction of semi-truck traffic. Thanks to all who supported this endeavor!

  9. Reader in Molino on October 30th, 2011 9:51 pm

    We are one of the few counties who have been excellent stewards of its money. Attending the county meetings can make someone more educated on that. Many people in this area are avid readers plus we have many children who need computer access for school subjects, etc. This will fill a need and will indeed be a real plus for this community. Thanks for the positive support!

  10. bmr on October 30th, 2011 8:02 pm

    I thought Escambia County Fl. was broke?

  11. bm on October 30th, 2011 2:36 pm

    I bet I can go to that library everyday and will not see nobody after the first month or so of being open
    .. waste of money

  12. dad on October 30th, 2011 8:01 am

    Can’t wait to use the library. This is a real plus for our community.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News 

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