The Jackson Fire Marshal recommended closing the Eudora Welty Library Tuesday night. He said water leaks continued to plague the building. The State Fire Marshal shut down the building in 2017 due to water damage and leaks.
Fire Marshal Elliot Holmes inspected the building Tuesday afternoon and said what he saw was "a little rattling due to the water damage you have in this building." "To be honest with you, if this was any other location, I would recommend no one be in this building," said Chief Holmes. He reiterated "I feel the library should not be open." Chief Holmes said he would give the building an "F".
He said the building suffered from numerous code violations as well as having no working fire sprinkler system. He said he made the determination after making his annual fire inspection of the building. Board members pointed out the city of Jackson is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the library.
Executive Director Pattie Furr said the heavy rains of the last few months exacerbated the problem. She said the maintenance crew empties out 16,000 gallons a day when it rains. The maintenance supervisor said he once worked 36 hours straight trying to keep water from collecting in the building.
Ms. Furr presented a report that provided more information about recent flooding and water damage at various libraries:
* Raymond library suffered flooding when a basement sump pump failed, Water spread to main section of library.
* Bolton library suffered flooding due to a roofing problem.
* Welty library: water flows from the roof down the walls to the basement. Water streams down both sides of the elevator shaft. Window in children's area receives water from a new leak. Existing leaks are expanding. Plastic is replacing more ceiling tiles. Water runs down wall where power outlets exist. Over thirty trashcans must be emptied to keep building dry.
The report is posted below.
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| Sears building in 1947. |
The Eudora Welty library is over 70 years old and has been plagued by water leakage problems for several years. JJ reported in 2017:
The Eudora Welty Library flunked seven of twelve areas of a field test for water leakage in 2015. The Jackson-Hinds Library System hired a Florida company in to determine why the structure was plagued by water leaks. Building Leakage Investigation & Testing (BLIT) reported that the roof membrane did not cover the entire structure, sealant was improperly applied all too often, water damage was causing the mortar to disintegrate, and a host of other problems. Earlier post.
The city didn't fix the building but instead allowed it to deteriorate. State Fire Marshall Mike Chaney shut down the building in 2017, stating the sprinkler system didn't work, the new roof had major leaks, and the building had mold. The phone line to the fire department was cut. He said at the time the building should be condemned. Earlier post on library closure.
Ms. Furr and the maintenance supervisor said Tuesday they had fixed the problems cited by Mr. Chaney two years ago and the current problems developed over the last year.
Kingfish note: The Deputy Fire Marshall was simply doing his job. Doesn't this poor schmuck realize that doing his job will get him in trouble in Jackson? As for the board, it was simply disturbing to see board members more concerned with the reasons for the fire marshal's inspection instead of the problems he actually found. It seemed as if they were trying to pin this on the director and her staff.
If the city chooses to move to a new site, here is a suggestion: Move into the Clarion-Ledger building. The second floor is no longer used and Gannett would probably love to vacate the premises. It is across the street from the police station and Thalia Mara Hall.
Then there is the city. The library system lost 30,000 books at the Northside Drive library when the city didn't find another site for the books. The building closed due to flooding problems but the city took no action. Director Furr begged city leadership several times to find a new site. The city dithered and said it was taking inventory of the property it owned so it could determine where to move the books. Someone forgot to tell the mold and moisture because they ignored the city and ruined the books anyway.
The city justified the delay again by planning itself to death:
Robert Blaine, Jackson's chief administrative officer, said the administration is taking a "holistic" approach. It's reviewing an overhaul of the system to bring the entire system more up to date. Its review includes the possible relocation of some branches to more trafficked areas.This whole fiasco has been a classic case of politicians pointing the fingers at each other while nothing gets done. Executive Director Patty Furr begged the City Council and Mayor's Office several times to seek an alternative site to the Charles Tisdale Library after it closed. They told Ms. Furr that the city first wanted to get an inventory of all property and buildings owned by the city while the City Council took her pleas under advisement. Next anyone? Well, the books mildewed while the PhD's studied and the politicians yapped. The mold inconveniently ignored the master plans and did what it does best, seek and destroy.
"Libraries are no longer repositories of books. Libraries are a space for the access of new information and for the creation of new knowledge. We need to begin to think of what a 21st-century library system in Jackson looks like. How does that align with our public school system? How does that align with our community needs? How do we build capacity?"
Blaine said the downside of the approach is that it has taken longer for the administration to address the immediate needs of individual branches. He said the administration doesn't want to "just put a Band-aid" on the system.
"Like many things in Jackson, there are so many immediate needs. Historically, we've been in the practice of putting Band-aids on these needs. What we're trying to do as an administration is to get to the root causes," he said.
But every day that nothing happens is a setback for Furr and the community that has come to rely on their library. .... Planning while crumbling post.
The Eudora Welty library is falling apart. The State Fire Marshall said it should be condemned. The City Fire Marshall recommends closing it as well. The city instead ignores the problem while the staff wears itself out trying to keep one floor dry.
There are no excuses for this catastrophe. None. To think that the Civil Rights leaders fought like hell to get access to the Jackson libraries. Now the current leaders can't be bothered to save them. The ultimate irony is Little Lord Lumumba is achieving what the Citizen's Council failed to do: shut down the libraries.
39 comments:
Same exact incompetence shown by the great mayor and Dr. Blaine in the handling of the zoo. Excuse after excuse. Sad thing here is the animals are living creatures. The giraffe, a herd animal, is still alone as is the white rhino and five other herd animals living isolated. This administration is a joke!
Let's be honest here...and this post will not see the light of day. Eudora Welty was a white woman of world-wide renown and fame as a writer. Had she been black, this place would today be a shrine encased in gold leaf. Had this venue been Faulkner's, it would suffer the same fate.
End of discussion.
Jackson is a very poorly run city.
Zoo? What zoo? oh..the one that’s not going to be open for spring break family visits? the one that didn’t have christmas lights nor boo at the zoo?
it’s almost like the city leaders just set themselves up for failure time and time again..
Ahhh the old Sears . . .
Gawd how I loved that place back in the 60/70's.
The smell of fresh popcorn and freshly roasted cashews . . . when one walked into any entrance.
" Look for it only in books, for it it is no more than a dream remembered".
One lesson we learned during Katrina, was that people who had those big, cheap plastic storage containers, frequently found those containers FLOATING in their homes - CONTENTS COMPLETELY INTACT (including family photos, documents, etc.)
Pending Downtown's conversion to a state-controlled zone, separate and immune from the confederacy of dunces elected by "The People of Jackson", maybe the Library's rare/historic/ancient books and papers can go into some of those plastic containers? Do interested parties need to begin donating dehumidifiers, sump pumps, plastic storage containers, and SILICA GEL PACKETS?
"The giraffe, a herd animal, is still alone as is the white rhino and five other herd animals living isolated".
Thanks for the update 3:04 !
I hadn't even considered that fact.
That's so sad for the poor animals still out there on West Capitol Street.
What in the name of Christ are any of you negative commenters doing to remedy the situation? Put your money and your sweat were your mouth is. You can even conceal carry if you are scared and have a permit.
There is no law on this land preventing you from raising money and volunteers to address the issues in our state Capitol. Put up or shut the hell up you ignorant and lazy racist trolls.
Move the library to the zoo.
Looks like the Mayor is busy "destroying the world we don't want to live in and creating the world we do"
UM, @4:22 are you off your meds?
"What in the name of Christ are any of you negative commenters doing to remedy the situation? Put your money and your sweat were your mouth is".
It's very simple 4:22.
Your Mayor and City Council are legally bound to correct that situation before any of the rest of us can
attempt an intervention.
Next question.
The escalator, my first.
I forgot to include:
'Fire Marshal recommended closing the Eudora Welty Library"
I agree with the Jackson Fire Marshal.
4:29: No, move the zoo to the library. Saves on the water bill.
Why don't you guys start a foundation to restore and preserve this landmark if it means something to you...
I remember when this library flooded when Harvey Johnson was mayor. He turned it over to one of his builder friends. (That hasn’t, turned out very well.) After assessing the damages, he stated something to the effect, “of course, the books were not insured.” If you insure a library, what are you insuring.
The description of the condition of this once convenient & busy library makes tears come to my eyes. What in hell is wrong with city officials to allow this?
Northside Branch gone, books ruined beyond repair. Welty going, going, gone. Books will sit in there to rot. Troubles at other branches. What a sad state of affairs.
Just wondering, what's in the old library location across the street from Welty? Maybe they should move back over there. Naw, they would let that one rot to the ground too.
Isn't it mostly a homeless day shelter these days.
Yes, the city failed. No excuses for Tyne condition of that building or the Tisdale library. But, does the director not have the discretion to distribute the books among the other branches before they mold?
The old Sears Roebuck and company store is as decrepit as the Library these days. When Downtown Jackson was thriving with Sears, Woolworth, Penny's, MacRaes, and other quality stores AND two way traffic. In the mid seventies when they made the streets one way it began the decline of that area and of course changing demographics.
King - any update on the zoo?
Remind us when it was shut down.
7:35 PM asks this question, "What in hell is wrong with city officials to allow this?"
For the answer, see post at 3:35 PM near top.
If not related to 'the struggle', nothing in Jacktown will survive.
I would bet 4:22 hasn't lifted a finger to help the City with its problems either. He or she just looks for reasons to call white people who point the problems out racist, rather than hold the black public officials accountable for their mistakes.
Epic mashup opportunity here if City of Jackson and it's leaders recognize it and can execute!
The current Eudora Welty library conditions PLUS the current ongoing zoo crises means Jackson could have the first actual rain forest libraryzoo!
Does anyone need it pointed out that a rain forest libraryzoo is just the type of innovation that the Donald Trump administration would support? Jackson must be sure to point out to the Betsy Devos Department of Education that many many charter school students would use the rain forest libraryzoo to increase their test scores. They will make it rain federal money!
Too bad Phil Bryant isn't the governor anymore, this seems like his type of project too.
If the Fire Marshall thinks the building is unsafe for people to be in, why RECOMMEND closing it? Shouldn’t he just close it before something awful happens? If this were a privately held building, he would have already shut it.
Barn doors should be closed before horses escape.
4:29 and 5:44 In what universe has any public library been barred from fund raising and donations of any kind , including labor?
The truth is that none of the libraries were constructed as little more than ordinary commercial buildings. Designs and building requirements for a library have to be more stringent. There are older libraries all over the world that are still functioning.
In general, the lack of care for buildings and homes all over Mississippi is rather stunning. A regular inspection and maintenance system on any structure catches potential problems before they become catastrophic problems.
And, hiring cleaning help which understands the some cleaning products and methods can damage surfaces is helpful too. The use of bad cleaning practices becomes rather glaring as well...pitting and fading and dried out wood is apparently invisible.
The critics who fled continue to ignore their role in leaving a mess behind. And, looking at the new builds in their current areas indicate there's been no learning curve.
There have been efforts for decades to improve ,especially government building contracts to bring them up to standard. The efforts always fail. Building things to last is not as profitable and gets done occasionally as a matter of pride in work and willingness of the contractor to try to educate the clients who , in turn, listen.
The usual liberals, some above, pointing out the need for somebody else to come to their rescue. It's a fact that this building's condition rests solely on the administration of the City of Jackson, Mississippi - not the legislature, not folks who don't live in Jackson, not 'white folk', not Go Fund Me, not Archives and History, not a D.C.Foundation, not a collection plate and not some entrepreneurial spirit.
That's the primary problem with liberals in general and cities that are democrat-liberal-run, in particular. Got that hand stretched out.
Meanwhile: Just saw a cartoon of potholes in New Orleans being filled with Mardi-Gras beads.
The only way the library will be saved is to rename it after Lumumba sr.
If everyone in Mississippi who had read a book by Eudora Welty were to contribute a dollar the mayor could treat the council to a Big Mac and fries dinner. But I'll keep my dollar for now.
2003 sold NEJ house to black couple with children. They just paid +46.6% more in 2019 property tax than 2003. Jackson apologists need to save the sob stories.
This is so sad.... when I started as a reporter for WJTV, my first assignment was covering the opening of the library and I had the opportunity and privilege to interview Ms. Welty. It is as a delightful little library and I would pop in there over the years. while the current administration and Mayor have repeatedly demonstrated their ineptitude, there is plenty of blame to share, with past administrations kicking the can down the road on basic maintenance of infrastructure.... sadly, there is no glimmer of hope, and it will only get worse.
@9:24. I’m not sure why you think any citizen is obligated to stay in Jackson or anywhere else. In MOST cities, people come and people go. As some move away, others move in, thereby keeping the population level, at least. In Jackson, it seems, nobody is moving in. It’s been that way for a couple of decades now. Why? And why are the people who, for whatever reason, chose to move out somehow responsible for the people who don’t move in. Let me help you with that question.
People don’t move into Jackson for the same reason many people choose to move out. It’s called “quality of life”. Homeowners are looking for convenient shopping (for the things THEY want to buy), good schools, cultural activities, a variety of good restaurants, good roads, attractive, peaceful & safe surroundings. NONE of these things exist in the city of Jackson. Not ONE. That’s why people don’t move in and that’s why current residents chose to move out. The city deteriorated FIRST. That’s what caused people to move, NOT the other way around. And you have Harvey Johnson to thanks for starting that momentum.
You wanta see this place immediately saved, reconstructed and turned into a viable shrine? Just rename it Fannie Lou, James Meredith, Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Medgar, Emmett or Jesmyn. Grant applications and foundation checks by the dozens will pass each other in the mail before the week is out.
the city of Jackson has no leadership, and those that are elected into positions that would normally be occupied by those w/ leadership skills, and a vision and plan for the future, are currently occupied by individuals who have no pride in themselves, and it shows in how the city is run and cared for. We need to go back to a mayor strong government, and no incumbant re-elected until progress is shown at all levels. We have long since let go of the rope, we are simply in a free fall to rock bottom and it would appear we are reaching for more stones as we drop.
"If everyone in Mississippi who had read a book by Eudora Welty were to contribute a dollar the mayor could treat the council to a Big Mac and fries dinner. But I'll keep my dollar for now."
Only a dunce would think or suggest this building is a repository of Miss Welty's writings. Enjoy you biscuit.
We need to go back to a mayor strong government ...
We already are a strong mayor form of government. Nothing has changed since 1984.
The library is not the only thing in that building. Water leakes run down through the library to the basement. Hinds Emergency Management and Jackson's printing presses are in the basement. What problems are there?
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