Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 22 February 2010 11:27 107.5 KISSFM:
The Okanagan Regional Library has announced plans to build a new 11 million dollar library branch to serve Greater Vernon. Library board chair Ted Bacigalupo says a new two storey building will be constructed at 2808 30th Avenue across from the Tolko headquarters. "This new facility will be more than twice the size that the current library. It will be increased from approximately 13,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet."
Bacigalupo says the current library doesn't meet the needs of area residents. "The board and library staff recognize that Greater Vernon has been under serviced for many years. Current library statistics indicate that about 850 to 1,000 people visit the current branch everyday, checking out and returning about 45,000 items per month."
Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert says the city is selling the land to the library for ten dollars. "Furthermore, we are waving fees associated with necessary zoning and bylaw issues. These agreements will allow the Okanagan Regional Library to build downtown and save Vernon taxpayers money, otherwise plans to construct this facility would be too cost prohibitive." Lippert says the land was purchased by the city back in the 1980's for an intersection but hasn't been needed and is currently a parking lot.
NORD chairman Herman Halvorson says the regional district will borrow the 11 million dollars through the municipal finance authority, with the library to pay it back "We will use the alternate approval process for this as this is less expensive (than a referendum) and should not be controversial as this method of borrowing saves money for taxpayers throughout the Okanagan Regional Library district." Halvorson wasn't aware when the AAP process will begin but it will be for residents throughout the North Okanagan. If ten percent of people opposed the idea of NORD borrowing the money for the ORL, the plan will be scrapped. Construction of the new branch is scheduled to start by March 2012, with completion in 2013.
3 comments:
One has to question the so called 1000 people a day visiting the library. I have never seen more than 10 people in the Library at one time. They probably don't even have 45,000 books.
We do not need a library of this size. Why are we making financial gifts-we are already one of the highest taxed communities in the library system and in BC.Why should we subsidize electoral areas BandC and Coldstream-I assume the property will be exempt from property tax for ever-at the Vernon taxpayers cost!
Haha, let's get upset over something as appropriate as the City giving away one of its many parking lots for an appropriate use like a library!
Nevermind debating the fact that our OCP does not call for ONE BIG LIBRARY downtown. Nevermind that smaller, satellite branches located in neighbourhood centres would be far more appropriate - ie. multiple, smaller libraries with more computers that more people can access.
Nevermind that SD22 and ORL could have aligned their shared objective for "lifelong learning" by taking over the West Vernon Elementary property.
Gosh, what you should be debating is how much bigger will City Hall get when the Library vacates its old premises!
Has anyone bothered to ask how much that reno will cost us taxpayers?
Just because we voted down a referendum on BORROWING to build a new civic complex doesn't mean that there won't be a new civic complex. Piece by piece, bit by bit.
Anyone who needs proof should check out the recent completion of Spirit Square, AKA Council Chamber renos. Oh and then there's another $500,000+ to revamp the parking lot, and ... and...
According to the City's website, "Completion of Civic Plaza Revitalization" has a project price tag of $3,525,000.
Now that is something worth debating.
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