Win-win idea

Dear editor:
We had an opportunity to attend the meeting between the library board, Fort Frances town council, and school board officials regarding the building of a new library.
This meeting provided an excellent opportunity to mitigate long-term savings, in a joint venture between the town and the school board, as it relates to building the library as a joint venture rather than a stand-alone project near the arena.
There was a genuine effort made by the board (which already has secured funding to build a new Robert Moore School) to work with the town.
The library board has not received full funding as of this date. There is an approximate $1.2-million shortfall. This money the Town of Fort Frances does not have.
In order to proceed with this stand-alone project, the town would have to come up with this $1.2-million shortfall (probably by borrowing this money through debentures), which will result in a certain but significant increase in town taxes.
We are two taxpayers who do not believe we need a new library. However, the project moved along and we did not register any opposition to it. Having said that, the state of financial shortfall is of great concern.
We don’t have the money. Simply put, doesn’t anyone get it, “We don’t have the money!”
This is further exacerbated by the fact the library board has suspended fundraising for this project. This simply means if we go ahead, we pay with money we don’t have.
If we are to proceed, we have to think outside the box. We have to look strongly at cost-savings. The opportunity presented by the school board is an idea out of the box that allows an avenue of win-win for those who want a new library and council having the necessary dollar synergies to make it happen.
Some of those synergies would present savings in the following areas and help reduce costs: tie in of three-phase power, security system, fire suppression system, janitorial services, computers, computer technical service (as the school has technicians on payroll), possible capital integration costs along one wall, and parking space, etc.
We are saddened by the library board’s position. In our opinion, the members of this board want a stand-alone library built at the sports complex come hell or high water—and nothing will change their mind.
To this we say to the library board, produce all the money to build a stand-alone library or get on with the art of compromise.
As we see it, three members on council, who worked for the board of education (Sharon Tibbs, Andrew Hallikas, and Rick Wiedenhoeft), support the stand-alone library, to be built at the sports arena, and will vote to proceed with borrowing the money to make this happen.
Couns. Paul Ryan, John Albanese, and Ken Perry are looking for a compromise and may, in our opinion, if it comes to a stand-alone project, vote the project down.
It looks to us like Mayor Roy Avis is attempting to find compromise to make this project a reality, but fully understands the consequence of not having the money to proceed with this project.
The ball is heavily placed in his court. He may well be exercising the deciding vote on this project.
We would like to thank Dan Belluz, Mr. McMaster, and members of the school board for their insight and leadership for advancing an opportunity to the town that certainly did not have to be offered.
In closing, the tendering process ought to be shut down until a final decision to proceed with a stand-alone library or a compromise library (tied to the school board initiative as presented to council) is made, or vote the project down and we’ll live with our present library.
Thank you,
Bill Krukoski and Allan T. Bedard
Fort Frances, Ont.