Lawsuit against Whitley Library Board resolved

A lawsuit concerning damage done to a surrounding building by the destruction of the former Gorman Jones building in early 2014 has been resolved.

On April 3, 2014, Ron and Donna Whittaker filed suit against the Whitley County Public Library Board of Trustees, the city of Williamsburg, and Superior Demolition over damage done to their building and business, The Scissor’s Edge Salon on Main Street.

The library board awarded a $58,800 bid to Superior Demolition in December 2013 to demolish the Gorman Jones Building because of its dilapidated condition

The city of Williamsburg agreed to share the cost of the demolition 50-50 with the library, which bought the building in 2011.
On Jan. 14, 2015, the Whitley County Public Library Board of Trustees deeded an approximately three-foot wide portion of land on the lot to the Whittaker’s "for and in consideration of a dismissal of and release of all claims," according to the deed.
The strip of land in question runs parallel to the shared wall that was between the two buildings. The wall had belonged to the library but has now been deeded to the Whitakers.

Whitakers the use of a 15-foot temporary easement on their lot to allow for repairs to be made to the Scissor’s Edge building.

On Jan. 20, an agreed order of partial dismissal was signed by Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester dismissing the library board of trustees as defendants in the case.

Winchester signed a similar order on Jan. 20 dismissing the City of Williamsburg as a defendant in the case and on Jan. 8 dismissing Superior Demolition Inc. as a defendant.

Library officials declined to elaborate on any monetary concessions made during mediation except to say that any monetary amount would have been paid directly by the library’s insurance carrier.

The Whitley County Public Library Board of Trustees purchased the Jones Building in 2011 for $25,000 from an asset management company in hopes of using it as either a new library or a site for a new library. Structural reviews of the building quickly determined it to be unsuitable for use in its current condition. Library officials say the cost to repair it was too high.
The building was marketed for a time to possible buyers but to no avail.

The building was constructed in the late 1800s and has been home to Davis’ Grocery, Triplett’s Grocery, Hurley’s Food Market, Leisure Time Hobbies and Leisure Time Pool and was even used as apartments for a time. Gorman Jones purchased it in 2004. He has since died.

Library officials are uncertain about the long-term fate of the lot where the Jones building once stood.

The board heard a request in January by Kathy Lay to allow the use of the lot later this year as a site for a community garden with several 4’x4′ raised beds available for use by the public.

The library board agreed to consider the request, and is expected to make a decision on use of the lot for a community garden in the near future.