Midweek briefing

Landing renovation money

Libraries are an essential element in the fabric of any community, and that’s certainly the case with the Augusta County Library in Fishersville. So it’s good news that bids on a proposed renovation there came in dramatically lower than the estimated cost of $2.4 million.

But these days, spending always brings rubs. Budgets are tight at every level, except the federal. So the question in the case of the county library is not whether $1.6 million – the amount of the low bid combined with other costs – is a fair price (it certainly appears to be), but can the county swing it?

Supervisors split 4-3 over whether to solicit the bids. Getting low bids certainly has to help the library’s cause.

An option worth exploring is the one offered by county Administrator Patrick Coffield. He suggests tapping the county’s purchase of development rights, or PDR, money. That fund stands at $1.3 million and is unlikely to be used for its initial purpose, use in buying up property rights to preserve farmland. That initiative failed to get sufficient backing.

We urge supervisors to take a closer look at the implications of using PDR money for the library. Among the considerations has to be whether the county has any other more pressing needs for which the PDR money could be used. If not, and there are no legal concerns, this might well be a great way to get an aging building up to snuff.

The Wayne also rises

Angst lingers, as it always does in these parts, over the discussion at a recent meeting of the Waynesboro City Council over whether to proceed with the second phase of a streetscape project on West Main.

For our part, we’ve urged prudence based on concerns over whether capital projects money totaling more than $400,000 should be tapped for the work. As is invariably the case, the Wayne Theatre, which sits in the middle of the area targeted for the work, has been plugged into the debate.

In the eyes of Vice Mayor Frank Lucente, the Wayne is the true driving force behind some locals’ streetscape push. In the eyes of the Wayne Theatre Alliance, it ought to be a factor because of the impact construction might have on the theater once it opens.

We take another view. Forget the Wayne, for once, in this discussion. We agree that the city needs to finish the work, and soon, rather than add this to the long list of jobs Waynesboro has started then abandoned. Our questions are of a practical nature and they recognize that these are no ordinary times. What are the implications of using the capital projects money? What are the risks? If that money isn’t tapped, then how will the costs be covered and when will the work get done? Set a date.

Urging care before action should not be confused with urging inaction. Some would have the money spent without question while others would do nothing. These are not the only options. Again we say: Move, but move smartly.

Move along, Phil

Add ours to the chorus of voices calling for Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, to get on with his life’s work.

E-mails indicate he tried to get a job at Old Dominion University while grabbing state money for the school. That’s a problem, Mr. Delegate. Even GOP power players want Hamilton out, but so far he’s refusing to go away.

Hamilton wants to serve his term, he says, because that’s what his constituents elected him to do. But they didn’t know about ODU, did they, Phil? That thing called trust is in pieces.