{"id":427,"date":"2012-10-09T15:26:20","date_gmt":"2012-10-09T19:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2012\/10\/library-process-transparency-john-s-quarterman.html"},"modified":"2012-10-09T15:26:20","modified_gmt":"2012-10-09T19:26:20","slug":"library-process-transparency-john-s-quarterman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2012\/10\/library-process-transparency-john-s-quarterman.html","title":{"rendered":"Library process transparency —John S. Quarterman"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\n\"John<\/a>\nIt’s good to see that someone responsible for allocating millions of dollars\nof taxpayer money is willing to answer questions about related decisions,\nas\n\nKay Harris is doing!<\/a>\nIt would be even better if there were a regular process by which the taxpaying\nand voting and library-using public could ask such questions and get answers.\n<\/p>\n

\nIf there were such a process, it’s pretty likely Ms. Harris or the Library Board\nor the County Commission would have been asked about the architect selection,\nconsidering I wasn’t even involved in that selection and my ear was scorched\nwith complaints as soon as it was announced.\nMaybe Ms. Harris can suggest a way to produce such a process.\n<\/p>\n

\nLet me take Ms. Harris’ points in order.\n<\/p>\n

\n“First, they were the only one of the four finalists who did a full cost\nevaluation of the project, estimating $16 million while others were more\nthan content to use the state’s estimate of $21 million.”\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThat’s very interesting news, which clarifies for me what she was getting at in\n\nthe VDT writeup on that selection<\/a>:\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

\n\u201cCRA not only read through the entire packet of material and\ntailored their presentation based off the material but did homework\nregarding the amount of money the library actually has available for\nthe project, which is heavily dependent on the passage of SPLOST in\nNovember,\u201d said Harris.\n<\/p>\n

\nSPLOST dollars represent two thirds of the funds needed, with the\nsale of the current property and a state grant supplying the\nremainder. Harris said the library’s total is about $18.5 million,\nwhich is less than the state’s consultants estimated for the\nproject, which was $21 to 22 million.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe library is required to have a final cost estimate for the\nproject by Aug. 8, which is 90 days before the Nov. 6 election, in\norder for the project to be included on the next SPLOST. Under\nSpecial Purpose Local Option Sales Tax statutory requirements, each\nproject on SPLOST must be identified and estimates must be specific\nand accurate.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cCRA came in under the amount at around $16.5 million,\u201d\nsaid Harris, \u201cwhich was nearly $4 to 5 million less than the\nother three firms who did presentations.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\nThe VDT writeup didn’t say none of the other architects made a bid\nless than the state’s recommendation.\nThanks to Ms. Harris for that clarification.\n<\/p>\n

\n\nSecond, they brought to the\nproject a consultant who is considered the country’s leading library\nconsultant; only one of the other four brought in an outside expert.\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nOnce again, the VDT writeup didn’t say whether any of the other\nrespondants brought in a consultant, or what their qualifications were.\nThanks to Ms. Harris for that clarification.\n<\/p>\n

\n\nThird, the principals of this firm live right over the county line\nin Florida\u2014they are within the 50 mile radius that is\nconsidered “hiring local”, so they are indeed a local firm.\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhile I thank Ms. Harris for this clarification, too, I have to ask\nby whom is within 50 miles considered “hiring local”?\nCertainly not by the local architects who have been complaining about\nthis decision.\nAlso, CRA’s office address is in Tallahassee and almost 90 miles from Five Points.\nPerhaps Ms. Harris can clarify who considers within 50 miles “hiring local”\nand how almost 90 miles counts as within 50 miles.\n<\/p>\n

\n\nThey also brought a local engineering firm, from Valdosta, to the table,\nand have agreed to hire as many subs from the local area as\npossible.\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nNow that’s good news, and the part about the local engineering firm\nwas not in the VDT article.\nIt also wasn’t in the presentation at the\n\nLowndes County Commission Work Session.<\/a>\nSo this is especially useful additional information.\n<\/p>\n

\n\nSo I truly don’t understand the “jab” about hiring non-local…\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy is a simple question considered a “jab”?\nAs Myrna Ballard said to me some time back, we really don’t seem to know\nhow to have a discussion around here.\nFor my part, because I ask a question doesn’t mean I’m opposed to what\nI’m asking about.\nIt means I’m interested in knowing the answer.\nThanks to Ms. Harris for answering.\n<\/p>\n

\n\"Library<\/a>\n\nif it was that big a concern, why not just ask me the\nquestion?\nMr. Quarterman wasn’t even in the room at the time I spoke….\n<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe beauty of videos of meetings,\nwhether of\nCounty Commission\n\nWork<\/a>\n\nSessions<\/a>\nor\n\nRegular<\/a>\n\nSessions<\/a>,\nor\n\nLibrary Board<\/a>\nis that nobody has to be there in the room to see them:\nthe whole world can see what went on!\n\"South<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\nI had planned to be at\n\nthe LCDP meeting<\/a>, but was called away to another meeting.\nI had previously hoped to ask Mrs. Harris about the architect selection at the\nSPLOST VII Kickoff Speeches<\/a>,\nbut she did not speak, the final speaker\n\n<\/a>\n\nmade it clear no questions would be entertained.<\/a>\nNonetheless, I attempted to find Mrs. Harris in the small crowd,\nbut I didn’t see her then, and I don’t see her in any of the videos.\nNor was the public invited.\n<\/p>\n

\nAs I pointed out in\n\nmy writeup on the SPLOST VII Kickoff speeches<\/a>,\nto my knowledge there has never been a forum for open discussion of\nthe library selection.\nPerhaps\n\nthe Library Board meetings<\/a> are that forum:\nI was greatly heartened to see Ms. Harris\n\ntry to ensure that everyone\nwho came to the recent Library Board meeting who wanted to speak got to speak.<\/a>\nBut where are the Library Board agendas or minutes posted so people will know\nwhen to go speak?\nAnd the format of a board meeting is a bit inconducive to actually getting\nanswers, since such boards don’t usually answer directly when citizens speak.\nPerhaps Ms. Harris can clarify where, how, and to whom citizens should ask questions\nabout the new library project?\nMaybe even in a public forum where everyone could see the questions and answers?\nPerhaps also in a public online forum?\n<\/p>\n

\nPersonally, I plan to vote Yes for SPLOST VII.\nHowever, as many other people have volunteered to me, it’s a bit of a\nbaby-with-the-bathwater situation, and the bathwater is the library\nand auditorium projects, because of the opaque nature of their processes.\nI don’t want to throw the baby (most of the other SPLOST VII projects,\nespecially those\n\nwater projects<\/a>).\nBut other voters might be inclined to do just that.\nMore responsiveness on the parts of our elected and appointed officials\nmight help get SPLOST VII passed.\nWhich is one big reason why it is so good to see Ms. Harris is willing to\nanswer questions about the library project!\n<\/p>\n

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