Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The self-employed computer consultant and trainer brought his crusade to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors on Monday.
But those involved in the effort to improve the Blacksburg branch of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library say Deeb's ideas are too late.
They point to the more than yearlong design development process that ended last year, and to the second construction bid opening on the project that's scheduled for Friday. Last month, the county rejected the sole bid after it came in 37 percent higher than expected.
Deeb has lobbied members of the Library Board, its Building Committee and the Board of Supervisors in private over the past several months. Monday he took his case to the public.
Deeb, a Blacksburg resident since 1989, said he was frequently out of town or involved in training students and therefore completely missed the library design process in 1993-94. He is a native of Lebanon who said he's been a naturalized U.S. citizen since 1974.
"This is the people's money. Why are we playing with it?" he asked. "If it is still on paper it's not too late to change."
Deeb, who said he earned an engineering degree in Britain, has proposed reducing the number of exterior walls by changing the shape of the renovated library into a large rectangle. He said his scheme would add 22 percent more interior space and cost 30 percent to 40 percent less than the current plan.
Library backers say any changes at this point will only increase cost. Delays also could threaten to run the county afoul of arbitrage restrictions set forth in federal tax law. The county is required to spend a portion of the $1.88 million in general obligation bond money by early June.
"I'm sorry Mr. Deeb waited so long to give us his input," said Nancy Hurst, chairwoman of the Library Board. "The time for that ended last fall when the building committee and Library Board accepted the plans."
Supervisor Joe Gorman, a Building Committee member, said Deeb has some good ideas, but only for a building project that is starting from scratch. The Blacksburg branch will be the second renovation of the existing building at 400 Draper Road. Most of Deeb's ideas are not practical to implement now based on the opinions and experience of local contractors and the architect, Gorman said.
"It's the opinion of the Library Building Committee that it's too late," Gorman said.
The Board of Supervisors neither discussed nor took action on Deeb's request. But the board will be asked to approve the construction bid for the project, possibly as soon as April 24. Board members could raise the issues if the bid price is higher than expected, as was the case with the new health and human services building in Christiansburg earlier this year.
"If bids come in Friday and are still over budget we will have to revisit the plans," said Larry Linkous, supervisors chairman. "At that time we may be able to incorporate some of his ideas."
by CNB