JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When the Jacksonville Main Library downtown opened nine years ago, there were water leaks in the building.
The windows and roof that leaked are being still being fixed as work on the building continues, but News4Jax has also learned there is an issue with the concrete.
The city's been working on the $1 million repair for more than a year, and now nobody knows when it's going to be done.
The city is suing, trying to get the contractor to pay for the repairs, but so far the money is coming from taxpayers.
"They've been fixing that library since they built that library," library patron Earvin James said.
There have been problems from the start with the library since it opened in 2005. It cost taxpayers $95 million.
The biggest problem has been the water damage. The city began making repairs in March. There were books covered with tarps and water stains on the ceiling.
At that time, the repairs where supposed to be done in May. It was then moved to August. That didn't happen.
On Monday morning, there were employees of the Pubic Works Department, city engineers and the construction company hired to do repair work.
Because this is a matter that's now in court, a spokesman with the Mayor's Office said he can't talk about the testing or what was found.
But News4Jax learned it involves the concrete that was used and the cinderblocks. There are holes in some now that are exposed.
Crews have also been doing work along the windows where water was coming in.
The price tag for the repair work stands at $1.4 million. The city is paying for it up front so it can be fixed before it spreads any further. Eventually, the city hopes to get it all back from the contractor, Elkins Construction. That will be decided in court.