County may help Village library

Jeremy Nash news-herald.net

Loudon County Commission on Monday discussed a possible $15,000 contribution to the Public Library at Tellico Village to assist with repairs related to flooding in August.

Discussion during the workshop came after the county budget committee met earlier in the day and voted 4-1 to approve the contribution after a motion and second was made by commissioners David Meers and Henry Cullen. Money would come out of Capital Projects Fund 171.

Van Shaver was the lone opposing vote. Shaver motioned to give the money contingent upon a match from the Tellico Village Property Owners Association, but the proposal failed for lack of a second.

Heavy rainfall Aug. 18 resulted in the library flooding when a drainage pump failed. Now library representatives need $45,000 to pay for repair work.

“Whoever speaks with them, I don’t know if anybody will, if you can encourage them to continue to pursue the legal aspect of it and talk to the POA,” Matthew Tinker, commissioner, said.

In a follow-up interview, Tinker wanted library representatives to know even though the contribution passed in budget committee, it isn’t a guarantee it will pass with the full commission.

A contribution is expected from the POA if the county approves, Cullen said. Discussion should occur at the September POA meeting.

“(Becky Haile, Friends of the Tellico Village Library Inc., president) said that she has talked to the insurance company on numerous occasions, and I said, ‘Well, I’d be looking for a new insurance company for sure,,” Kelly Littleton-Brewster, commissioner, said.

Littleton-Brewster said the insurance company will not cover damages.

“There’s nothing that excludes this from insurance,” Shaver said. “I don’t know why on earth they’re not threatening to take legal action against their insurance company or something. I mean, it’s neither here or there, it’s their problem, but there is no way this falls under a flood.”

Alfred Davis recently visited the library after hearing about the incident.

“I will tell you, I have spoken to a bunch of people that’s taxpayers in Loudon County and asked them, ‘Do you think our tax money ought to go out there and help the library?’ I have yet to find anybody who thinks it should,” Davis said. “... If you vote to the donate the money there and you’re going to put it in the paper, and I have an idea you’ll make a whole bunch of people mad.”

Julia Hurley, commissioner, questioned whether flooding could happen again.

“She blamed it on the pump that didn’t pump,” Gary Whitfield, commissioner, said. “I mean, the pump failed, it should be covered under the insurance.”

A decision could be made at the October commission meeting, Shaver said in a follow-up interview.

“I think one of the biggest issues with it is, again, at the last meeting you (Shaver) were very clear and you said this exact thing then on the record (that) you need to talk to your insurance company, your attorney and to ask the POA for a donation and then let us know what the result of that is and then we’ll take it up again,” Hurley said. “Those three things did not occur. So we’re right back here having the same discussion we had at the last actual meeting.”

In a follow-up interview, Billie Whitney, chairwoman of educational outreach for the library, said carpeting and drywall repair is complete, but contouring of the land still remains. The $45,000 does not include grading.

Community donations have been given to help, she said. As of Tuesday morning, the library remains closed.

Haile could not be reached for comment by News-Herald presstime.