Irricana Town council voted in a 3-2 decision on June 16 not to move the Irricana Public Library into a building on Second Street as requested by the Irricana Library Board on May 20. Instead, council has decided to lease the building the library requested to the Crib Boys and Girls Club.
The proposed building is located beside the Irricana Centennial Centre.
The library board members were asking council to allow them to expand their operations to a larger space, as their current location at the Irricana recreation centre will not be sufficient in the future. The current space is 1,200 square feet.
The library proposed two options: the Second Street building or building a new facility to hold the library.
According to estimates done by Town CAO Bob Payette, moving the library to the Second Street location would cost $400,000, including renovations. A new building would cost $500,000. The Town’s MSI grant fund, which some of the money for the library would come from, is $290,000.
The Crib Boys and Girls Club of Irricana was forced out of its location at 212 Fifth Street after the building was deemed unfit when it failed an inspection in April due to findings of asbestos and frayed wiring.
Councillor Laura Thiessen said there is a need to focus on the Boys and Girls Club as a priority before the library.
“We spent $50,000 on the (Town’s) Accommodation Master Plan that told us there was issues with the Crib two years ago,” Thiessen said. “We need to find a solution for them.”
Thiessen proposed a one-year lease for the vacant building on Second Street. According to Thiessen, the money that would have been used for the library from MSI grants could instead be used on other Town projects such as senior centre upgrades, a new ice plant for the skating arena, a football field or to buy a new facility for the library later.
Councillor Lora Peterson was one of two members of council who voted against the proposal. Peterson said a focus should be put on preparing a location that is a multi-use service to the Town.
“We can start building a library and beside that put a school, a senior’s centre, a gymnasium,” Peterson said.
“For the future of this community to grow, we need to start looking ahead and planning ahead for a facility for the community.”
Peterson voiced her concern about taking away commercial space by using the building on Second Street for Town purposes.
“I know the library needs space,” Peterson said. “But, I’d hate to take away commercial space off Main Street.”
Peterson said the building being used for the Town’s purposes could hinder the ability to attract more businesses to Main Street.
Deputy Mayor Dennis Tracz also voted against the proposal voicing his concern over a lease on the building.
“If there is something that goes wrong with it, you’re subject to the will of the owner,” he said
Tracz proposed to buy the building on Second Street for the library and give its current location at the Irricana Recreational Complex to the Boys and Girls Club.
“Here’s a building right in front of us,” Tracz said. “Something we can do right now and not have to wait.”
Mayor Valerie Squires said the fact that library visits have declined in recent years, is a good reason not to rush the decision.
In 2013, the number of visits to the library was 4,483. That number is a 30 per cent decrease from 2011, when the number of visits was 6,500. Both numbers were provided by the library board.
“I’m not saying the library isn’t an essential service,” Squires said. “But, because the Boys and Girls Club had to vacate their space, it shouldn’t cause a knee-jerk reaction to move the library.”
Thiessen made a motion that would direct Town administration to lease the building on Second Street for $1,100 per month for one year to the Boys and Girls Club. During that time, administration will look into various purchasing options, including buying the building or other building options for the Boys and Girls Club, Alberta Health Services and other community services.
The motion will be brought back to council for the next meeting on July 14, for budget consideration.
The Crib and the Library board members were not available to comment at press time.
