City Council Interviews Library Board Applicants

Hampton City Council interviewed three applicants for the three openings on the library board Monday evening, June 23. 

The applicants were Joslyn Stock, Becky Palmer and Dick Paulsen. 

City Councilor Jerre Grefe asked “what do you think the number one role is of the library in the community?”
Dick Paulsen said he believes the library’s top priority is to educate people. 

“Have a place for people to come and sit down and read and get a lot of stuff done that they can’t do at home,” he said. “They’ve got a good group of people there. They do a good job and I’ve enjoyed the last five years on the board.” 

Stock agreed with Paulsen, saying the role of the library is to educate the community, along with serving as a safe space. She said that she had met with several students at the library earlier in the year to teach them how to crochet. 

“When my children were younger, it was a way to introduce them to a love of reading,” she added. 

Becky Palmer said "definitely education.” 

“You can go in and any topic you might be curious about, you can find resources on it,” she said. 

Mayor Steve Birdsall said there are three openings on the board and three applicants so they will vote to appoint them to those positions during their workshop Thursday night, June 26. 

After the interviews, the city councilors discussed issues with the location of the skate park. Work has begun at the new skate park but residents at 820 1st St SE are concerned about the noise, safety and privacy issues they will have to deal with and requested a privacy fence be built around their house to help with those issues. The property owners’ daughter, Haynnis Taylor, spoke for her parents at the meeting. She said the park is being built ten feet from their home. 

“While our family supports the mission of this project, we are asking the council to consider installing a city-funded privacy fence to provide a reasonable and respectful buffer between this new public space and our private property,” Taylor said. “The park’s close proximity raises several concerns for us. First, it affects our privacy. The current layout provides clear views into our home and background greatly impacting our family’s sense of privacy and comfort. Second, it creates noise that affects our quality of life. Skate parks by nature generate significant noise. A solid privacy fence would reduce sound levels and restore some peacefulness to our home environment. Third, it raises safety and security concerns. With the public space so close to private property, the potential for trespassing or accidental damage or security issues increases. A fence helps maintain a clear boundary. Lastly, it could negatively impact our property value. The proximity without any mitigation will reduce the market value of our home under no fault of our own.”

Taylor added that other communities have provided privacy fences to property owners in similar circumstances. 

“We do want to be clear that we understand and appreciate the intention behind this project, providing a safe and positive space for young people,” she said. “It’s something we deeply value.”

She said they are already feeling the effects during construction of the skate park and she knows it will only intensify once the park opens. 

“In addition to this, I want to share something personal. Just a few weeks ago, on Memorial Day, my brother, who grew up in this home, died at the age of 35. He was a Marine Corps veteran, who served with courage and pride. He was also a devoted father to three young children, two of whom still live in Hampton, and who now face a life without their dad. He lived in this town for many years. This place helped shape him and holds his childhood memories and his roots. As this park comes to life, we ask the city to consider placing a memorial bench in his honor. It would be a deeply meaningful gesture for our family and a quiet reflective space to honor his life and service in the community that helped raise him.” 

City councilors asked Public Works Director Doug Tarr about the possibility of moving the park, and he said that they had considered a number of other locations, but that this was the best choice for a variety of reasons. First, the ground wouldn’t have to be filled in a lot, as tanks used to sit on it and it was already firm. City Manager Ron Dunt also said they had considered the routes to the parks when looking at options. This one has a trail that leads up to it. 

City Councilor Barry Lamos said he believes the noise will always be an issue at this location. 

City Councilor Jim Davies said he would like to see the city proceed with the project but thought the city should work with the home owners on finding a fence that best suits their needs. 

The council will vote on a decision at their meeting on Thursday night, June 26. 

Several of them were in favor of raising funds for a memorial bench for Taylor’s late brother. 

“I would be glad to help raise some money to make that happen,” said Davies.