Lilburn, county strike deal for city hall-library complex

By Shane Blatt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Lilburn City Council on Monday night approved an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County for the design and construction of a new city hall-library complex.

The agreement spells out how costs would be shared between the city and county for the 44,000-square-foot facility, the first of its kind in Gwinnett County, on a five-acre site at Main and Church streets.

Lilburn will pick up 54.5 percent of the $7.5 million to $9 million tab, paid for with 2009 SPLOST funds, City Manager Bill Johnsa said. The agreement also authorizes county-awarded architectural services to Precision Planning in an amount not to exceed $388,381.

The city hall-library complex is expected to be finished in three years, Johnsa said.

Lilburn leaders have said the shared facility will cut down on expenses for construction, maintenance and parking. In addition, it dovetails into the city's plans to realign Main Street, with the facility anchoring a new downtown district.

Monday's decision comes as the city weighs plans to construct a nearly $20 million recreational sports complex. Last month, city leaders voted to enter into a license fee agreement with Big League Dreams, a California-based operator of youth and adult sports facilities. Ultimately, the agreement could lead to a public/private partnership for the 40-acre complex at U.S. 29 and Indian Trail Road.