Nitro residents can look forward to a renovated library becoming a reality in the near future.
Nitro City Council members voted to allocate nearly $200,000 from sales tax revenue for the project during Tuesday's council meeting.
"Our library has a huge following," Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said. "We have a lot of people that come to our library and we think this will attract even more people.
Casebolt added it has been "years and years and years" since the library has had any renovations.
Council accepted the lowest bid from Daniel Corporation at $167,000. Aesthetics will also be updated - the library will have new floors, paint and furniture. An additional $27,000 will go toward new furniture for the library.
"Libraries are very important to communities," Casebolt said. "We also wanted to create an opportunity for parents to bring their young kids in and get a head start before they go to school."
A teen center, circulation area, a new circulation desk and new interactive computer station geared toward young children will be included in the renovations. Bathrooms and the heating and cooling systems will also be upgraded in the project.
Casebolt is hopeful that the upgrades to the teen area - which is now just a few bean bag chairs - will attract more teens back to the library. The new teen area will be set up like a laptop bar similar to those found throughout college campuses in America.
"[That design] is very popular now with libraries," Casebolt said. "I'm very excited about the project. We've got a very progressive council."
There is no set start date for the project, but it is expected to take 80 days to complete, Casebolt said.
Also on Tuesday, council approved the final design of the Living Memorial Park that will be located on the corner of 21st Street and Second Avenue.
The park will include a stage, World War I statues and a memorial wall. Citizens also will have the option to purchase bricks to be placed in the certain areas of the park for $25.
"[The park] fits right into our transitioning into a living memorial for World War I," Casebolt said. "When you live in a city, and especially when you are growing up, it is important that you have this sense of place and that you belong to something. Fortunately, Nitro has this great history of World War I and we are making people feel a part of that - that this is where they are from."
Both projects are part of Nitro's 20-year plan that council hashed out in 2014, Casebolt said.
In other business, council:
n Approved to start accepting bids for renovations at City Hall.
n Approved to start accepting bids for an east Nitro drainage study.
n Accepted Casebolt's appointment of Jim Riffle to the Fire Department Civil Service Committee.
n Approved March 15 meeting minutes.