Kizzy Payton, president of the Library Board of Control, says she is “very pleased” with the Metro Council’s decision Tuesday night to delete a motion calling for alternative plans to constructing a new downtown library. “This will allow us to move forward with our selection of architects and move forward with the building and the plans,” she says. “It appears we do have their vote of confidence.” The council voted 8-2 against a measure co-sponsored by five councilors that would have asked the library board to come up with plans to renovate the existing downtown library. The council’s vote against the measure paves the way for the previously approved $19 million project to continue. The vote came just before 9:15 p.m., moments before council rules would have forced the meeting to end. Several citizens spoke at the meeting, some in favor of and some against the new downtown library. J. Slater McKay, president of the Forum 35 young professionals organization, said the library was too important to stall. “Rehashing the same decisions doesn’t just waste your time, it wastes ours,” he told the council. “I want to make sure that my currently theoretical children inherit a Baton Rouge that is worthwhile. If you shortchange the investment now, it’s going to cost us a lot more in the future.” Jim George of Baton Rouge had a different view. “The downtown library is one of the nicest quiet places to read for a very good reason: There’s no one there.” Council member Tara Wicker expressed her support for the proposal, saying the conflict appears to be a generational issue, with the younger generation generally in favor of the project and the older generation primarily opposed. “Our country is changing and it’s moving,” she says. —Ian McGibboney
Today’s poll question: Do you think the Metro Council has spent too much time debating issues pertaining to the new downtown library?
