Those who follow local politics and affairs of the city are well aware the city of Pell City acquired what is commonly known as the Centurylink Building in 2014 for $1 million .  To those with a personal interest, it is no surprise the old library will soon be packing up their toys and heading to a new home.  A home of 4,600 square feet on the first floor.  The surplus space will allow the children’s, teen’s, and adult’s book club’s to meet and conduct themselves at the same time.

Our new library, it can be said without argument, will soon be, “walking in talking cotton,” as the old saying goes.

But what of the building that currently houses the Pell City Library?  None of our citizens, regardless of how well informed they are know of what for certain will become of this space. No one, including our own government.

Well, the honorable Mayor Joe Funderburg is considering several options.

“Our courthouse is overflowing, so we may use it for office space. Or maybe for the police department.” He also added, “We may sell it as that area is prime commercial property.”But hastily added, “Since we don’t have to sell it, the new owner will have to adhere to certain building codes that will maintain the integrity of that particular part of the city.”

It has been suggested the soon-to-be empty building be used as a teen recreation center.  Melissa Daffron, junior vice president of the Key Club at Pell City High School could barely contain her excitement at the idea. When asked what she and her friends currently did for entertainment, she answered, “Just go to each other’s houses.  A lot of people just cruise the fast food parking lots of fast food places. But that’s not a safe environment.”

Your humble correspondent “took it to the streets” so to speak. After surveying people ranging in ages ranging from 6 to 60 from Pell City to Moody, the responses were 100 percent in favor.  But one naysayer, a 42-year-old naysayer and father of two teenagers — 14 and 16 — who was born and raised in Pell City, answered with both positive and negative answers.

“It’s a good idea,” he said without enthusiasm. “But it’s never going to happen. The powers that be are afraid a rec center would attract a bad element. They have the money to send their kids to camp and go on vacation in the Summer. During the year, they can afford for their kids to be in as many school activities as they want or participate in church activities.”

However, after researching the calendars of 15 calendars of Pell City and the surrounding areas, the amount of activities just for teens looked sparse. Most of them were seasonal: basketball and cheerleading, Summer camps, and halloween alternatives. Some only met one night a week. Some included church members of all ages and some were for young children only. And several of them either had empty calendars or calendars that did not mention teens at all. Of course, there are exceptions that prove the rule.And no offense is intended to any denomination or particular place of worship.

Whether Melissa’s excitement will be contagious, or the nay sayer’s gloomy predictions prove to be correct, whether the city will take part in such a venture or a benevolent benefactor will purchase follow the aforementioned vision is yet to be seen.

One thing, however, is certain and clear.  This is something the vast majority not only want but consider a needed addition to our community.