Progress Slowed on Strafford Library

Construction on a new library branch continues in Strafford, but is slowed by concerns for safety.

Renovation on a 140-year old building in downtown Strafford began in 2006.

The building is being transformed into the city's first library.

But some concerns with the building structure may have slowed the process a bit.

Raymond Hopper, Strafford's building inspector, says safety is his number one concern.  "Because the buildings collapsed in Clinton, me being involved with the southwest Missouri code officials, I know the seriousness of these old buildings and the problems you can run into, so we were not trying to hold the project up but we wanted to make sure the building was as safe as possible"

Hopper says the wood floor will eventually be taken up and replaced with cement.     Some of the old wood floor will be incorporated into the new building.