The Baton Rouge Metro Council will have to wait a little longer to vote on the architectural contract for a $19 million project to demolish and rebuild the downtown River Center Branch Library.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control decided Thursday to delay examination of the contract by the Metro Council for 30 days, allowing members of the two bodies to meet and discuss the project.
After nearly a year of controversy, the Library Board moved to allow time for individuals involved to discuss the project information and answer questions from the Metro Council concerning the potential facility.
Discussion on whether to replace the downtown library has caused debate, but Library System Director David Farrar said he feels this is an opportunity to serve the Baton Rouge community with an up-to-date facility.
“The board chose an architect to build it, but there are rumblings that the Metro Council won’t ratify the architects,” Farrar said. “A small handful of people would not like to see $19 million spent on a new library, and they’d like to rattle the cage loud enough to make elected officials believe they are more than they community.”
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]