With the library board expected to get firm numbers as to project costs for the new library after meeting with architects on April 1, town council will put off any more discussions regarding funding the library until after that time.
During a meeting late yesterday, library project manager Brian Avis informed council that he and the board will know more about the library plans and costs after next Tuesday’s meeting.
“The committee right now has not seen any detailed drawings, nor have we seen any detailed costing,” he noted. “This will be our first crack at it.
“The last time we met with the architects, they were very confident and were relating to the committee and to myself that this looks good,” Avis added.
“The dollars and cents look good and the footprint looks good at 14,800 sq. ft. . . . Next week, we’ll have a good opportunity to look at it.”
Avis also said that after this meeting, the architects will be in a good position to put the job out to tender.
“They want to put the tender out, and I would say that’s a good position to be in right now,” he noted. “It’s my belief the town’s purchasing policy gives the town a timeframe of 45 days where you really don’t have to commit to a contract with what’s there.
“Having said that, once that bid is out and we know the details of what they’re bidding on, then the committee is in a far better position to say what can be cut back to reduce costs,” Avis continued.
“If we’re very fortunate, the costs will come under and that will be a bonus for us.
“My recommendation to the committee this afternoon is we let that tender go and then we’ll certainly be in heckuva lot better position where we can reduce costs,” he reiterated.
“We can address far more clearly how many dollars we can save.”
The rest of yesterday’s meeting included discussion between council and the library board, with councillors being concerned about possible project costs, what kind of cap should be put on its share of the project, and potential cost-savings.
While councillors clearly showed fiscal concerns about helping to pay for the estimated $3.9-million project, which the library board wants to see built starting this year, Mayor Roy Avis stressed council does want to see the project move ahead.
“Council is not to be seen as stalling this project or slowing this project down in any matter at this time,” he said. “We’re still on track.”
Mayor Avis later said: “I think there’s a misconception out there that council wants to derail the library project. We don’t want to stop it. We want a library built.
“I agree with Brian. Let’s wait until April 1. Let’s get the real hard numbers. Let’s get the costs,” he added. “But as I said two weeks ago, there’s probably going to have to be some compromise in both camps.”
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•received a presentation from clinic administrator Marlis Bruyere and Fort Frances Community Clinic Inc. chair John McTaggart regarding the progress of the Fort Frances Family Health Team;
•received a presentation from Police Services Board chair John McTaggart regarding recommendations from the Border Traffic Committee;
•received presentations from local residents Allan T. Bedard and Bill Krukoski regarding several concerns, including library construction and its potential impact on taxpayers, and council’s adoption of an administration recommendation to hire a private investigator to look into “closed door meetings.”
(They also left council with a report on the need for community transportation);
•approved a request from the Canadian Cancer Society to proclaim April, 2008 as “Cancer Month” in Fort Frances;
•approved a request from the Salvation Army to proclaim May, 2008 as “Salvation Army Red Shield Month” in Fort Frances;
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. for the financing of post-secondary student co-op work placement under the Northern Ontario Youth Co-Op Program; and
•passed a bylaw to approve a contract with Toromont Cat for the purchase of wheeled front-end loader.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
