The new library and community center at the former Dillwyn Primary School site is gaining traction, as members of the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the design presented during its Monday meeting.

Joshua Bower, architect with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, presented the current outline for the project. The former school is located at the intersection of Routes 15 and 20.

This presentation included a three-dimensional walkthrough of the library, floor plans of both the library and community center, and opportunities for audience members to ask questions and voice concerns.

The library’s design includes a children’s area, an adult section with a fireplace, computer stations for children, teens and adults and accessible entranceways.

Like the previous plan presented in December 2017, the library and community center entrance would be located in the back of the building, where the parking lot is located.

The library service desk, which would be what people would first see when entering the library, may include materials representative of Buckingham County, such as hardwoods or slate.

The community center would include eight classroom spaces that could be used for group meetings. These rooms could include partitions that would allow for greater use of the rooms and let multiple groups meet at one time.

“The idea of this is to make a flexible, classroom-esque type space … there’s a whole variety of different uses that you can have,” Bower said.

The back of the building, the former cafeteria/gymnasium, could be converted to a multipurpose room, which could house dining events, allow seniors to walk in a safe environment, and allow for athletic activities such as floor hockey.

The kitchen could be converted into a catering kitchen, Bower said.

The stage could become a storage area, but also retain the ability to be used as a stage for events that require it.

A difference between the plans presented in December 2017 and Monday are the prices.

Bower said Wednesday that the price increase was due to a cost increase in labor and materials.

The December presentation estimated that construction costs for the library would total a little over $1.8 million and $2.4 million for the community center.

Monday’s meeting had costs of a little over $2 million for the library and approximately $2.9 million for the community center.

Bower said after wrapping up construction documents, the next steps are to put the project out to bid, which could take place between March and April, present the bids to the supervisors, present contracts once supervisors approve bids, begin construction in the May 2019 timeframe, with the goal to wrap up the total project by February 2020.

Bower recommended one phase for the project, to perform demolition and construction of both the library and community center projects simultaneously.

Bower credited the county’s library committee, County Administrator Rebecca Carter, Finance Director Karl, County Attorney E.M. Wright, District Three Supervisor Don Matthews, District Four Supervisor Morgan Dunnavant and Central Virginia Regional Library Director Rick Ewing, for their help in developing the project.

“Not only has our goal been to make this a re-adaptive building for the community and make it a beautiful building, but also make this a cost-effective building for the community,” Bower said.

Matthews praised the committee and said he was proud that the building, which had been in declining condition, was being renovated for the residents’ benefit.

“Our county has needed this for a long time, and I’m glad just to be a part of it,” Matthews said.

He asked members of the audience who attended Dillwyn Primary School. About two audience members raised their hands.

Ewing thanked the board, and thanked Buckingham Branch Library Manager Amy R. White, Children’s Librarian Megan Almond and IT representative Dale Pruitt for their help in developing the new library location.

Ellis Acres Memorial Park Founder Wilbert Dean spoke concerning the library preserving the school’s legacy.

He said before the Ellis Acres space was a park, it was the Buckingham Training School, a Rosenwald school for African-American students. The school, once closed, had been demolished.

“We are trying to bring back those memories to some of us who went to places like that,” Dean said about Ellis Acres. “I appreciate the support that I’ve gotten from the county to do that, but I think we should keep that in perspective too, because we are a county as a whole, and we want to work together for the best of Buckingham.”

Marie Flowers asked whether solar panels could be installed at the library.

Bower said solar paneling would be best served being installed on the ground instead of the roof. He said because there would be a lot of ground at the site, it’s possible solar panels could be installed.

Joyce Gooden asked about preventative measures that could be installed for the fireplaces, expressing concern about children’s safety if they come too close. Noting her background in pediatrics, she said she had seen children become exposed to numerous injuries due to breaches in safety.

“Kids will get through any kind of barrier, and there are people who do not watch their children,” Gooden said. “I love the aesthetics of a fireplace … but that just looks like it may be a safety hazard.”

Bower and Dunnavant said it would be a gas fireplace, and they would place screens, fans and grates around the fireplace that would lessen the temperature closest to the fireplace.

Sammy Smith said the library project has come a long way. He said when the library was first proposed, it was intended to have funds raised by private individuals.

“Reality set in,” Smith said. “You can’t sell that many tickets to wine and cheese parties.”

“Yes, it’s come a long way. It’s beautiful,” Smith said. “If you can make it work without raising my taxes, I think it’s going to be a grand thing.

Rebecca Carter said the most recent estimates that were given for a new library was $3 million. Carter said the county, in its budget, is prepared to make the library project work without raising taxes.

Dunnavant noted that the location serves as a community center now, housing events for seniors and youth. He said the renovations and brand-new equipment would be “a good value for our expenditure.”

David Ball praised Ewing’s expertise, which he said was reflected in the current library plan. Like Smith, Ball said he would not want to see taxes raised.

Members of the board, after the presentation, voted to approve the design and proposal, and to vote to move the project forward.