Duane Hicks
Library board chair Joyce Cunningham warned town council yesterday that it must decide to go ahead with the construction of a new library and technology centre this year or the project won’t happen at all.
At a budget meeting yesterday, the library board recommended council enter into a contract with Aurora Construction of Thunder Bay in the amount of $3.7 million to proceed with the construction of a new library and technology centre.
The total project cost, including professional fees, furniture, and equipment, is $4.7 million.
According to the project budget submitted to council yesterday, the municipal share of the cost is estimated to be about $1.3 million—$240,00 from a dedicated reserve, $50,000 in in-kind services, and $1.09 million in long-term debt.
Cunningham said the process to build a new library here started back in 1995, and since then the library board has done everything the town has asked it to.
The plans for the new building “will provide sufficient space to provide the services and programs that are part of a library-technology centre in the 21st century,” and it is “a facility that is accessible to all persons with disabilities,” not only to access the building but to access all of its resources and services.
When asked what would happen if council decides not to go ahead with the new building, Cunningham replied: “Today, this month, if we don’t go ahead, the project is dead. We send the money back.”
Cunningham noted the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act came into being in 2005, and a major reason for having a new library is to meet these new accessibility standards.
If council chooses not to go ahead with the new library and technology centre, not only will the grant money and the funds donated by the public have to be returned, and the professional fees have to be paid out (about $300,000), but the town will have to spend money to upgrade the current library on Church Street.
This also will involve removing resources and shelves from the library in order to make space for an elevator, washrooms, and other features, which only compounds the current site’s problem of not having enough space for its resources, Cunningham stressed.
“By the time you are finished, you will have spent well over a million dollars to get a smaller library than the one you have now and you will not be able to reduce the staff now like you can in the new library because it’s still on two levels,” she argued.
“To me, it’s a no-brainer.”
Some members of council expressed concern over the town’s portion of the cost, noting the town’s share could be greater than $1.09 million if, for example, funding from FedNor does not come through as hoped and the old library building is not sold.
As well, the building committee negotiated with Aurora Construction to reduce the bid by about $500,000.
Coun. Paul Ryan pointed out certain aspects of the project that were trimmed for costs, such as paving the parking lot at the new library, still will have to be done in the future, and should be brought into consideration now when talking about the municipal contribution to the library project.
Council is expected to make a decision regarding the new library and technology centre at its next regular meeting this coming Monday (April 13).
Heritage tourism
Town council also received a recommendation yesterday to award the tender for the relocation and refurbishment of the Hallett and lookout tower to Tom Jones Construction for about $1.1 million.
This is part of the $1.4-million Phase II of the Heritage Tourism Project will also includes signage, interpretive panels, and wayfinding connecting the downtown core to the La Verendrye Parkway (Front Street).
The town’s share of the project is about $273,000, with the rest being paid for through federal and provincial grants and local partners (i.e., the BIA and Chamber of Commerce).
While most members of council supported the project as a means of boosting tourism, including relocating the Hallett, a few questioned the logic of moving the lookout tower.
Coun. Ken Perry felt it had no historical significance while Coun. John Albanese felt it should go “to the scrap yard,” and the town should be spending money to fix its roads.
According to the plans, the lookout tower is to be placed to the east of the Sorting Gap Marina, fixed up, and re-opened so visitors once again can climb its stairs and get a bird’s eye view of the river and surrounding area.
The Hallett, meanwhile, will be moved into the upper Rainy River to the west of the boat launch.
Council is expected to make a decision regarding this project at next Monday’s regular meeting, as well.
