C&C Contracting, LLC of Russellville, contractor for the future Todd County Public Library located at 507 South Main Street, is making massive strides in the new Library’s construction.
At its regular monthly construction meeting on January 30, Robert Cates, owner of C&C Contracting, shared with the construction committee the building nears approximately 75% of its completion. Encompassing approximately 12,900 square feet total when complete, the new Library, which has been made possible through a grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), is a facility that will add much needed space for the Library patrons of Todd County. The KDLA grant financing the project will provide $212,150 yearly for the next 20 years to offset its cost. This much-awaited state grant will allow the Library to occupy its first new construction facility since its inception in the late 20th Century. Total cost for the construction is approximately $4.1 million, a figure just slightly higher than what was projected in the Library’s KDLA grant application submitted in late 2021. Architect for the project is Gary Violette, a Todd County native and owner of Violette Architecture/Interior Design of Clarksville, Tennessee.
Recent months have seen work progressing on the roof with delays in its completion occurring obviously because of the frigid temperatures and rains of recent weeks. Insulation of the building is also completed, and almost all of the exterior windows have been installed. The HVAC units for the building are also now in place, and most of the exterior doors have been installed with some doors awaiting pouring of concrete surfaces. The electrical wiring rough ins have been completed, and both a dumpster pad and Bookmobile parking pad have been poured. Those familiar with the existing Library realize the need for the Bookmobile to have a covered area and an entrance that will allow the Bookmobile driver easy access in and out of the Library. This past week also saw brick work being completed on the back wall and west side as well as the front entrance area.
Depending upon the weather and no further weather delays, the next month will hopefully see the sprinkler system roughed in as well as the completion of brick and stone work. Plans also tentatively include completion of both the drywall installation and concrete pouring, beginning tiling of the restrooms, priming and initial painting of the interior, completion of the roof with roof ribs added, installation of the interior ceiling grid and ceiling tile installation, the hanging of door frames, and the installation of two exterior doors. Also, within the next month the cupola, an added feature to the roof that will allow natural light into the center of the building, should also see its completion.
It is important to express thanks to Kelvin and Lorie DeBerry, Brad and Mandy Shemwell, the late Guy Mallory, and the Guy Mallory family for their contributions making the site for the Library possible. The DeBerry and Shemwell families, partners in local real estate investments, sold the South Main Street property several years ago to the Library board at a discounted price as the Board anticipated future construction and awaited a state KDLA grant. The late Guy Mallory and the Guy Mallory family also donated, prior to Mr. Mallory’s death in 2018, an additional piece of land enlarging the new site to its current size. Other members of the current Library Board include Heath Shemwell, Tiffany Groves, John Paul Leinbach, Mitzi Page, and CLW. Two members exiting the Board in the last few years who were instrumental in planning for the new Library include Mrs. Susan Carroll and Mrs. Brittany Prather.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
February 4, 2024
