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Repair To Library May Run $286,279
By JIMMIE BELL Daily Herald staff Writer
The total estimated cost of repairing the Gulfport Library, a joint city-county operation, was set at $286,279 Monday by library architect Charles Proffer in a report to the Harrison County board of supervisors.
The §895,000 building sustained damages placed at nearly one-third its original cost during Hurricane Camille's onslaught in August.
A discussion followed on the proper procedure for completing the work as rapidly as possible:
Board President Laz Quave: “Do we advertise for bids on the work or do we call in the original contractor?”
. Chancery Clerk Cooper Darby: “We have to notify the insurance people first.”
Quave: “We will settle with the insurance company and then on any difference that’s left we will apply to OEP. I feel we should proceed with the same contractor W. L. Easterling, Inc., Gulfport, on a negotiated cost-plus basis.”
In other phases of his report, Architect Proffer told the
board:
(1)	Repair on the Harrison County health center bn 15th street will run $19,548. Insurance coverage will be checked out.
(2)	A meeting will be called soon with the Chamber of Commerce committee studying a new First Judicial District Harrison County Court house. “We were making great strides until the hurricane,” he said.
Supervisor Quave commented, “We need a lot of things badly' but we need this new court house more than most.”
In a preliminary report by Dr. Rupert Cooke, president of the library board, Mr. Darby was praised for expediting certain portions of the library repair work in advance, including roof repair and installation of $21,000 worth of glass windows.
Mr. Cooke stated. “I read a certain letter Mr. Darby wrote to the library board and to the mayor, citing the immediacy of various repair items—Mr. Darby saw to it the roof didn’t leak anymore. Then the city and the jail personnel cleaned the premises. We cleaned books as best we could, but now. the books are molding again. We have no
lights and gas, and this would be a help in drying out the volumes and preventing further i mold. Meanwhile, all the cables and fixtures have rusted and ; will have to be pulled out. I’ve received many calts from patrons who feel this work should be expedited.”
Mr. Proffer said, “We will -have everything we need to get< back in shape in a short time as possible.”