The opening of the new library in Euharlee has stalled.

“I’m not sure when it will open,” said Euharlee City Manager Trish Sullivan.

The problem is not with construction delays. In fact, Bartow County Library Director Carmen Sims said the new building on Covered Bridge Road is ready to open except for some small details like installing blinds, signs, and furniture.

The problem is a monetary dispute between the City of Euharlee and the Bartow County Library Board.

Sullivan said the Euharlee City Council is not happy with some aspects of the 7,000-square-foot building. They are particularly not happy with the exterior paint color, she said.

The city manager said a deeper conflict stems from the library board wanting more money.

“We’ve asked for very specific information about what the money is for and we can’t seem to get the information we need,” Sullivan said.

Sims said the library board needs money for operating expenses before it can open. She said different amounts have been discussed, but it has been somewhat difficult to estimate an exact amount because the library budget is on a fiscal year while the City of Euharlee runs on a calendar year budget.

However, Sims said it would be more expensive to operate the new library. The old library is 1,500-square-feet and has only one restroom. That amounts to higher utility costs, additional cleaning costs, and additional supplies for the new building.

“We’ve attempted to get funding up for several years, so it wouldn’t be such a shock when we got this building up and running,” Sims said.

Sims said they have given all the requested information to the council.

“We’re waiting on them to let us know how much they are budgeting so we can know how much we can be open,” she said.

Sims said if there isn’t enough operating money to keep the library open more than 32 hours a week, the board will have to get special permission from the Georgia Public Library Services to operate.

The delay also partially had to do with the changing leadership within the City of Euharlee government. Sims said they had meetings scheduled with City Manager Frankie Harris and the council last June to work out the final details and numbers, but Harris died suddenly.

Meanwhile, the Euharlee Library continues to operate in the old building.