By Harlan Kirgan
Editor
The computers were returned to the Eunice Public Library last week and on Thursday three employees were brought back.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot handed out keys to the employees on Thursday as he surveyed the returned computers.
“Lord have mercy we are making progress, you all,” he said.
Numerous details remained to bring the library up and running after being closed July 10 after the Eunice Board of Aldermen approved ordinances to break off from the Opelousas-Eunice Library system at a July 9 meeting.
The morning after the Board took action, the facility was closed at the direction of the library system.
A meeting was held in Opelousas on July 24 where it was voted to separate the assets, he said.
The city owns the building and has changed the locks on the doors.
The employees given keys Thursday are Bobbie Bordelon, Amber Guillory and Alliz Clark. They had worked at the library prior to the split and closing.
They told Fontenot issues such as an inventory of books and library cards have be solved before opening.
The return of the computers was a major accomplishment, but the mayor had considered theft charges if they were not returned.
During his visit Thursday, it was discovered a scanner/fax machine was still missing.
Fontenot said items in the library before the breakup are to be returned unless they were leased.
The mayor said he will consider renovations to the building.
The city paid about $162,000 into the former library system and the mayor has said he thinks the city can offer better services and possibly save money by operating its own library.