Relocating Bronson Library and Making It Community Center? It’s Just Survey Question Right Now

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

A Bronson Town Council member has proposed relocating the Bronson Public Library to a county government building about a block away and using the library as a community center.

Councilman Jason Hunt has asked Town Manager Susan Beaudet to place a question about relocating the library and making it a community center on an internet survey website called Survey Monkey.

The proposal was discussed at Monday’s town council meeting.

Bronson residents who want to participate in the short survey can go to https://WWW.surveymonkey.com/r/GNSFMC6. The survey is just a couple of questions.

The Bronson Public Library was built with a Felburn Foundation grant years ago. Beaudet will probably have to contact the non-profit organization to find out if the town can convert the building to a community center.

Hunt said the county building he envisions as being a suitable site for the library is the current Levy County Development Department building directly opposite the Dogan Cobb Municipal Building across the street.

“That building will provide easy access and also have high visibility for anyone wanting to stop in,” he said.

The Bronson Public Library is part of the Levy County Public Library System. The county supplies the books and librarians to run the libraries. Cities provide the building.

With Hunt’s proposal, the Bronson Public Library would relocate to a county-owned building. The county would continue furnishing staff, books, and computers as it does now.

The current library would be converted to a community center.

The Levy County Commission is planning to relocate the Development Department, which handles building and zoning, to a portion of the Levy County Government Center, formerly Bronson High School.

County commissioners haven’t been approached about Hunt’s proposal. Hunt is focusing for the time being on using an online survey to see if there is interest in relocating the library to make room for a community center.

Resident Elijah Williams asked for clarification on exactly what Hunt wanted to do.

“Would you be in favor of relocating the library and making that a community center?” Hunt said.

“Yes,” Williams responded.

“Spread the word,” Hunt said.

The current Development Department building was once home to a local savings and loan. It is made of brick and faces U.S. 27A.

Town council members have discussed using the building as Town Hall in the past. The town currently uses the historic Jackson Building perched atop a steep hill a stone’s throw from the library for its Town Hall.

While Town Hall looks majestic on top of the hill, it is difficult to access for handicapped people. The front is inaccessible to wheelchair users and the wheelchair ramp in the back poses challenges of its own and is rarely used.

Right now, Hunt’s proposal is in the idea stage, but he thinks it has merit.

The town council has also discussed the need for a community center for many years. The problem has always been finding to money to make it happen. Bronson is the county seat but it isn’t a wealthy city.

There have been discussions about obtaining grants to finance construction of the community center, but those discussions never got traction.