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What started as a renewal of a five-year lease for the current Rutledge Library turned into the relocation of the library at a savings to the county.

At this week’s Grainger County Commission meeting, when discussions on the new lease for the Rutledge library started, Commissioner Luke Stratton made the suggestion to move the library to the same building as the Grainger County Election Commission.

“We have a building at the election commission,” Luke Stratton said. “I asked them something about moving the library to a building (the county) already owns.”

The current library’s location is in the former Rutledge City Hall. The upper level is vacant at this time.

Luke Stratton said that if the county was to lease the current library building, the county would have to spend money for maintenance, including some weak spots in the floors, replacement of carpet and replacement of an air conditioning unit should it tear up. Moving the library to the Election Commission building would remove the county from liability issues. Replacement of one of the roof-top units at the current location is estimated at $30,000.

“Within this lease agreement, the county would be responsible for all maintenance and insurance costs,” Luke Stratton said. “As far as financially, upkeep and insurance, it’s my opinion to relocate the library.”

“We would have more space at the election commission building than at the library,” Mayor Mike Byrd said.

There would have to be upgrades to the election commission building, costing between $10,000 and $20,000, including painting.

“The election commission would be more handicapped accessible than the current location,” Commissioner Wendy Noe said.

“We are already paying insurance down here (election commission building),” Luke Stratton said. “We would be better off moving.”

The inside of the election commission building would have to be painted, new flooring installed and rest rooms upgraded, Byrd said.

Commissioner Darrell Stratton said that even with painting and installing a floor, the county would still be “way ahead.”

The motion to move the library passed on a 15-0 vote. It’s hopeful that the new library will be open by July 1. Volunteers are being recruited to help with the move.