In a close and controversial vote, the Macon County Board of Commissioners decided to purchase property in Nantahala as a possible location for a new library.
The parcel, located at 36 White Oak Lane, has an area of 1.29 acres and will cost the county $159,800. The property would provide Fontana Regional Library with a space to operate the Nantahala library branch. The current library building is severely out of date, often suffering from water damage. Commissioner Paul Higdon, who represents Nantahala on the board, feels it’s past time to take action for the library.
“The current library is dilapidated,” Higdon said. “It’s a double-wide trailer and its functionality is weak.”
In addition to a lacking physical state, the current library shares its building with the Nantahala Community Club and its land with Nantahala School. Some consider this an imposition on traffic and safety for the school community. Melissa Evans, Nantahala’s representative on the Macon County Board of Education, has been an advocate for moving the library to a new location and her influence proved critical in guiding the commissioners’ decision.
“What pushed me over the edge on how I wanted to support purchasing the property was the email from our school board representative,” board Chairman Jim Tate said. According to Tate, Evans supported moving the library off of school property.
While Higdon, Tate and Commissioner Josh Young all voted to purchase the property, Commissioners Ronnie Beale and Gary Shields voted in opposition because they feel moving the library would actually be worse for the school. The new location would be several miles away from the school, limiting how much the children can use it. The library is a key resource for students because of its internet access and educational resources, so making it harder for them to use may be detrimental.
“I think we’re all in agreement that the library needs to be up there close to the school so the students of Nantahala School can have access to the library,” Beale said. “They use it every day.”
Library officials also aren’t sold on switching locations. Librarian Karen Wallace said having the library, the school and the community club all in one spot is a good thing for residents because it helps them congregate and connected to each other. She doesn’t want the need for a building upgrade to get lost, but she doesn’t necessarily see a problem with the current site either.
“Our first preference is to stay with the school,” Wallace said. “It makes for a nice central location.”
There are still decisions left to be made about whether the library will move or if the land will be repurposed, but many officials involved are just glad to see progress being made after plans to revamp the library have spent years stalling.
“A new library and community center for the Nantahala community has been the topic of much discussion by many people for a number of years,” library board Chairman Bill Dyar said. “Apparently, the time of delays is over. I’m thankful for the movement forward.”
The next meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at the Macon County Courthouse.