Florence County Council to hold hearing on old library sale

Florence County Council will hold a public hearing Thursday on the sale of the former Florence County Library building, which a local corporation of citizens hopes to buy after a third and final vote by council this week.

The private group is pursuing a for-profit venture that will offer professional commercial space in the building, Florence attorney Ben Zeigler said in a previous interview.

The ordinance for the sale would give LIBRIS Redevelopment LLC a chance to buy the land for its appraised value minus the cost of remediation such as asbestos removal, County Adminstrator Richard Starks said in a previous interview.

The company, however, would have to pay at least $50,000 for the building even after any such costs are subtracted, Starks said.

LIBRIS Redevelopment comprises attorneys Zeigler and John Chase and architect Randy Key, all of Florence.

The company approached the county several years ago, and the county tried to sell the library last year, but received no viable proposals, Zeigler said.

The plans include demolishing the 1970s addition on the back of the library, which faces South Irby Street, and restoring it to its original, neoclassical appearance from 1925, he said.

LIBRIS Redevelopment would have to pay for space to store the county’s voting machines, which are stored in the 1970s wing, if the project begins before a new county elections office is built, he said.

Council also is scheduled to vote Thursday on the $3.9 million multi-year grant from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation toward building a new Florence Museum of Art, Science and History.

Council has approved the money to match grants, as well as land for the museum at Cheves and Dargan streets. The city of Florence gave the county a six-month, $200,000 option to buy the vacant land.

The county is spending about $4 million on the new museum, the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation is making a $3.9 million grant toward the museum, and the state is providing an additional $3.9 million.

Council also will vote on a contract for architects with Collins and Associates of Florence to design the new county Voter Registration and Elections building for $75,250.

The county Voter Registration and Elections Commission recommended awarding the bid, according to council’s agenda. Council voted in May to purchase land at $196,238 for the new building near Third Loop Road and South Irby Street.

Before Thursday’s regular council meeting, Council’s Public Service and County Planning Committee is scheduled to meet and discuss amendments to county accessory building rules.

In other business, council is scheduled to:

• Receive an update on the upcoming Florence tennis complex from Florence City Manager David Williams.
• Vote on four sheriff’s office grants for a criminal domestic violence investigator, a gang and juvenile crime investigator, vehicle replacements, and capital equipment.
• Vote on recommended allocations of $250,000 in state accommodations tax funding for the county in the coming year.
• Vote on a $131,530 bid by RWF Construction of Effingham for site group pond rehabilitation work at the Pee Dee Touchstone Energy Commerce City.
• Vote on a design-build contract worth $84,810 for the expansion of the Leatherman Senior Center’s exercise room.

IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: Florence County Council regular meeting
WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: Room 803 of the Florence City-County Complex, 180 N. Irby St., Florence
INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Y. Haselden at (843) 665-3035
WHAT: Meeting of the Florence County Council Public Service and County Planning Committee
WHEN: 8 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: Conference room, Room 802 of the Florence City-County Complex, 180 N. Irby St., Florence
INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Y. Haselden at (843) 665-3035