Word has reached me that funding for the Evelyn Meador Library here in Seabrook has bee approved.

Three weeks after Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia had to tell a disappointed Seabrook crowd that their new library was on hold due to lack of county funds, she had good news for Seabrook readers.

Harris County commissioners Tuesday approved $4.96 million to go toward construction of the new library.

“This action ensures that the estimated $4.96 million needed for construction of the new structure will be in place once the city of Seabrook-funded design portion of the project is completed and approved by the county’s Public Infrastructure Department,’’ Garcia said in a press release announcing that she had succeeded in securing the funding.

Seabrook Mayor Gary Renola said city officials are “ecstatic” about the news.

“This has been a high priority for myself, city council, and the entire community, especially after the library was closed because of Ike,’’ Renola said.

“We are pleased that our persistence for funding paid off. The commissioner has promised us to keep the project on a fast track and provide a schedule for completion,’’ he said. “We look forward to continue to work with the county staff to bring the project to a successful completion.”

Architectural plans for the new, state-of-the-art 20,000-square foot library are 99 percent complete.

The city has already spent $500,000 on the design for the new 20,000-square-foot building, and has another $800,000 in bond money to contribute to the project.

Compliments, of course, to Commissioner Garcia for her work on this project. In addition, I'd like to extend my deepest thanks to County Judge Ed Emmett, who I know has been taking a personal interest in this matter since I helped bring it to his attention recently, and who has been keeping me up to date as the effort to find the funds to rebuild the library has progressed.

Believe it or not, I'm rather at a loss for words at this moment to express my joy. The Evelyn Meador Library is an institution that has been one of the focal points of our community. Its staff have become friends to many of us in town, and its proximity to the local elementary and middle schools has made it a home-away-from-home to so many of our community's children. I've conducted elections in the old building since I first became election judge, and look forward to doing so in the new facility. Indeed, I don't know anyone in town who will not be gratified to see construction begin and the facility open in the near future -- and something that has been sorely missed will have been restored to us on that day.

Posted by: Greg at 02:22 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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