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Chester County Press

Library spokesman: New building will pay homage to local history and culture

10/14/2019 12:33PM ● By J. Chambless

The proposed design for the new Kennett Library.

By Chris Barber
Correspondent

Kennett Library Board Vice President Jeff Yetter brought plans for a new building project to the East Marlborough Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 7. The strategy of the campaign, he said, is to present the proposal to each of the eight municipalities in southern Chester County served by the library, and outline how the board intends to raise the funds for the new building.

As he had in previous visits to other townships, Yetter outlined the costs and appealed to East Marlborough to pay its share.

In the case of East Marlborough, he announced the need for an imposition of a dedicated .3 mill tax over a three-year period that would yield a total of $211,147. Over the three-year period of the tax, it would amount to an average cost of $72.28 per family per year.

A mill is a tax of $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property.

An alternative, he said, would be for the township to send the money over from its general fund.

The new library is destined to be constructed on the lot just west of the Kennett Y in Kennett Square, across Willow Street.  Already, he said, some funding and grants have been received, and proceeds from the sale of the present building and land on Way’s Lane in Kennett Township will go toward the new building as well. In order to remain qualified for certain grants, construction must begin by next August, he said.

Yetter said the new, two-story structure would have areas for movies, meetings and public performances. In contrast to the present location on State Street that has virtually no dedicated parking, the new property would have its own 37-car lot.

In recognition of the geography of the library’s location in southern Chester County, homage would be paid in the form of displays of some sort to baseball Hall of Famers Herb Pennock, the mushroom industry, the Underground Railroad and the equine culture.

In a campaign to raise funds for a new library years ago, the Philadelphia Phillies contributed $3,000 toward a tribute to Pennock. That money remains, and will go into the new building, he said.

Board member Robert McKinstry said he believes the township supervisors could possibly impose a .3 mill tax for one year, but would have to repeat the authorization vote in each of the following two years.

In other business, township resident and supervisor candidate Shelley Mincer asked about the progress of roadwork on Route 82 in front of Unionville High School. She said that during school dismissal hours, students were relatively safe traversing the road with crossing guards, but conditions became dangerous in the later hours of the day when there is no protection.

She was told that it will involve construction of an island in the road, sidewalks and two signalized crosswalks.

In recognition of the approaching winter, it was announced that the township has $100,000 worth of salt on hand. Additionally, PennDOT will pay the township $16,447 to plow snow on state roads in areas where the department is committed but turns over the responsibility to the township.

Also, the East Marlborough Township garage will get a roof replacement at a cost of $73,000 for work that is estimated to take about a week.