Below is a letter that I just received from Mayor Purcell. I am sure that
several of us will receive something similar... But, I thought there were
interesting facts that might want to be on the site...
Lissa
----- Original Message -----
From: "Purcell, Mayor" <mayor.purcell@nashville.gov>
To: Lissa Lamb
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 1:50 PM
Subject: re: Bellevue library
Ms. Lamb:
Thank you for sharing with me your interest in a new Bellevue branch
library. I believe as you do, that the Nashville Public Library is an
important part of what makes our city a special and attractive place to
live. As you may know, there was a very large commitment of capital dollars
to the expansion and renovation of library facilities just before I became
Mayor, which did not include the Bellevue branch. However, as Mayor, I have
worked to get significant increased operational funding for our library
system. The operating budget of the Library has moved from $10.7m the year
before I became Mayor in 1999, to nearly $18m today, a 60% increase.
Capital funding for new city buildings is different from operation funding,
but I expect the city to consider these two sets of budgetary needs at the
same time. I am scheduled to hold a budget hearing later today, in which the
Library board and director will present their operating and capital needs to
me. I will then weigh all of the budgetary needs of the city and the
available revenues, and make a budget recommendation to the Metro Council on
May 25. It is then up to the Metro Council to vote on the city's operating
budget and my capital project recommendations. The Metro Council will hold
its own budget hearings in June, with final passage of the budget taking
place on or before June 30.
Thank you again for letting me know that you support a new branch library
for Bellevue.
Sincerely,
Bill Purcell
Mayor
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 9:20 AM
To: Purcell, Bill (Mayor); Gentry, Howard (Vice Mayor)
Cc: carolyn.tucker@lipscomb.edu; White1, Harold (Council Member); Council Members; Nicely, Donna (Library)
Subject: Public Facility Improvements
May 2, 2005
Mayor Purcell, Vice Mayor Gentry, Metro/Nashville Officials,
I am writing once again to urge you to please consider the necessary funding
for an expansion of the Bellevue Public Library. With the growth and influx
of families into our area of Davidson County, a state of the art COMMUNITY
center is a must. In addition, relocating the library facility to the area
where growth is concentrated is key. A community library is a public
facility offering many venues to an area. An adequate facility in the
Bellevue area is desperately lacking at this time.
To those who oppose funding a library expansion, I ask if you have taken the
opportunity to visit the current Bellevue Library? If you answered yes, then
you will completely agree with me that there is definite need for an
expansion. You would have also noticed how many Bellevue residents actually
visit the library on a weekly basis, and how inadequate the parking is. In
addition, it is clearly evident that the facility itself is too small for
our growing facility. There is no room for community meetings (i.e.
neighborhood homeowner association meetings), no room for research and book
groups, and inadequate space for the technology that our community deserves.
If you visited the Bellevue Library, you would completely agree with me that
there is not even enough room on the bookshelves behind the front counter
for all the requests that have been transferred in from other Nashville
branch libraries. This leads one to believe that the library is too small to
accommodate the needs our families within the Bellevue community.
To those city officials that have not visited our library, I urge you to do
so. You will plainly see why a library expansion to create more of a
community center is so important to our community. While I personally oppose
some of the commercial growth within our community, I completely support a
facility that gives back to the community. I completely support the
expansion of the Bellevue Public Library, and can see no reason why you
should not do the same.
I am clearly aware that funding is the issue at hand. You should be clearly
aware that when a community urges you, our city leaders, to help us make
improvements then all work together to make it happen. Approving the
available funding for a public facility makes this a win/win situation.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts and for your
dedication and service within Davidson County. I ask you to grant the
necessary funding for this improvement to Nashville.
Sincerely,
Lissa Lamb
The Personal Touch Works! - April 30
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