By Gary Lloyd
ARGO — There is no public library in Argo, so a city councilwoman is providing what she believes is the next best thing.
Ann Brown said she has thousands of books at her house, accrued over the years by herself and from book club members. She came to the Argo City Council meeting Jan. 5 with the idea of bringing the books to Argo City Hall, for seniors and others who come by to take and read.
The city council approved of Brown seeking an average size bookshelf to put the books in at the lobby of Argo City Hall. There is no charge to the city or to the residents who may pick one up. They don’t even have to return the books if they don’t want to, Brown said.
The city of Argo
file photo by Gary Lloyd
“I just want to get them in the hands of people who enjoy reading,” Brown said.
Brown hopes Argo has a library “in my lifetime,” but for now, sharing her books with the community is a good thing.
“I look at it as a win-win,” she said.
Adding the books is the latest in advancements at the Argo Municipal Complex on Blackjack Road. In September 2014, the city opened its new $50,540 playground for city residents.
The Argo City Council and Jennings voted to allocate $25,540 for the project. The St. Clair County Commission contributed $15,000 toward the purchase and also loaned the city of Argo the remaining $10,000.
In March 2014, the city council voted 4-2 to increase the city’s sales tax to 10 percent overall.
Jennings said at the time that the increase projects at $97,000 in additional sales tax revenue per fiscal year. Jennings said then he planned to designate $50,000 of the city’s revenues per year to pay on a $1 million line of credit in order to invest in long-term city projects, such as road improvements, the city park and municipal complex upgrades, and possibly designating property that could in the next 10 to 20 years become the future site of a new high school.
Late last year, the city was turned down for that loan.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
