The fate of a proposed library extension could remain in limbo for the rest of the year. The Okanagan Regional Library Board, at its Wednesday meeting, agreed to extend the term of a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vernon to Dec. 31, 2007. The original deadline was Sept. 30. “The library board wanted to make sure Vernon council had enough time so they weren’t rushing on a decision,” said Lesley Dieno, executive director. Being a board of 22 municipal politicians, Dieno added: “They know sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you want to do.” The city’s plans to borrow $20 million for a library/office building were shot down through an alternate approval petition process. Vernon has since tabled any action on the new library/administration office.
“I think what needs to be sorted out is what do people in Vernon really want,” said Dieno, adding that there is a possibility for the deadline to be extended even further if needed. But she expects the board will have heard something from the city by its next meeting Nov. 21, when the board will vote on the coming year’s budget. The main message the ORL board wants to send is they still support the project. “The commitment for the $9 million for our share is still there.” But while this project may be one of the biggest the board is eyeing, Dieno adds, it is not the only one. “There’s other stuff on our plate too.” One such item, which was reviewed at the recent board meeting, is the proposed new library headquarters. The 27,000- square-foot building is slated to be built behind the board’s current headquarters building on KLO Road in Kelowna. Building is hoped to begin in the spring.
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