Instead of moving forward on a proposed library/civic complex, Vernon City Council is taking a few steps back. On Monday city councillors debated the issue again, and again, but little was resolved for the third time in a month. Since 6,000 people signed a petition countering the city‘s alternative approval process to borrow $20 million to create the complex, council has two-stepped around plans for the new library. Coun. Pat Cochrane said he and his peers need to hear the messages those signatures represent as they start making plans. “Regardless of why people signed this petition, with roughly 6,000 signatures you do need to take a couple of big steps back and sort out what needs to be done.”
Councillors continued to debate the merits of locations, necessity, size, cost, building above the existing building, other components of the complex and a possible referendum. Coun. Barry Beardsell said there are too many answers councillors need to have in front of them before they can start any kind of solid planning. “These are my questions and I think we need answers to these questions before we can make progress. Otherwise, we‘re not listening to what happened with that counter- petition.” One issue that has prevented progress is councillors wanting to know costs and get commitments from Coldstream and Greater Vernon Services, but city chief administrative officer Leon Gous said that can‘t be done until council agrees on specifics like a location and building components.
“It‘s kind of putting the cart before the horse, if you will.” The city and the library were supposed to come to an agreement by the beginning of the month, but since that hasn‘t happened, Gous said all the talk may be a waste. “There‘s no commitment beyond the end of September to negotiate. “We can see how long the library wants to wait, but it may be a moot point if they want to go their own way now.” Talk of a referendum barely came up in the meeting, but Coun. Jack Gilroy believes that may be the way to get council and the library going on the right track. “All of us agreed to commit to the library on that site . . . and if we have to go to referendum, I want to see that referendum in February. “Let‘s make a decision and let‘s get on with it.” After nearly an hour and a half of debate, council tabled the issue for discussion at a future meeting.
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