By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-Clay County commissioners accepted a bid from Mid-State Construction for a project to expand and renovate the library here at their December meeting last week, and the construction phase has begun, according to library officials.

“The Clay County Public Library is officially under construction as we work toward an exciting new upgrade!” a post on the library’s Facebook page said Monday.  “During this time, parking will be limited to the front of the building only.

“Construction is expected to be fully completed by August 31, 2026.  We appreciate your patience and support as we make the library even better for our community. 

“Please keep an eye out for updates on any temporary closings or changes,” the post said.  “We can’t wait for you to see the finished results—big things are coming!”

The expansion and renovation comes courtesy of a $1.7 million Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Connected Community Facilities grant, as explained by UCDD community development planner Megan Reagan.

Reagan spoke to county commissioners about the construction bid and improvements to be made to the library located here on Guffey Street.

“I’m really excited about this project,” she said.  “It is for a 3,000-square-foot expansion for the library.”

Reagan explained the bid for the expansion came in “surprisingly low,” which will also allow the front entrance and soffit to be renovated.

“At the meeting on the 20th, the bid was lower than we all expected and we all were excited about it,” commissioner Winton Young said in response to Reagan’s comments.  “If you have been to the library lately, the main door where you go in has a glass front that is gone.

“They are redoing all that and that is a very important thing that we need to be thankful that is in the budget.  The soffit (work) is great and we have enough money to do that, we were afraid we wouldn’t have.  Those two additions will make the library look a little more modern.”

“It will be more modern and more energy efficient,” Reagan reiterated.  “It is my understanding that the soffit is rotting at the top… (when reworked) it will make it more energy efficient.  So it can last for years to come.  This expansion is so exciting for Clay County.”

Young also offered additional information about the project.

“For those who don’t know, the addition will be at the back of the library,” he said.  “There will be no more parking, to my understanding, in the back.

“There will be parking on the side and parking on the front.”

Reagan said the library would have “the same number of parking spots, maybe a few more” when construction is completed.

She also said part of the library expansion will include the addition of private telehealth rooms, where consultation with medical professionals will be available.

Following the discussion, Young made a motion to accept the bid for the library project.  Commissioner Jennifer Ritter seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

In other business, commissioners approved three notaries, moved a vehicle from the ambulance service to maintenance, and approved several miscellaneous budget amendments.

Commissioner Jerry Rhoton made a motion to approve Tammie Dawson, Carol Rettig and Libby Kirk as notaries.  Commissioner Parrish Wright seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

Young made a motion to approve the transfer of a 2019 F-350 ambulance from EMS to the maintenance department.  Ritter seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

Ritter made a motion to approve a budget amendment for the general fund.  Rhoton seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

Ritter made a motion to approve another budget amendment for the general fund.  Commissioner Elizabeth Boles seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.

Ritter also made a motion to approve a budget amendment for the solid waste fund.  Young seconded the motion, and it passed 10-0.