KILLALOE – Members of Killaloe-Hagarty-Richards (KHR) council were treated to an update on the proposed new library building by board chair Lee LaFont on November 5.
LaFont said while the library belongs to the township, it will be funded by donations and grants.
“Even if KHR were not involved…we would be informing you of what we are doing,” LaFont said. “Because the building will belong to, and the library system belongs to KHR, we want you to be aware of it; we want you to support it.”
There were four main items LaFont wished to discuss with council.
The first was several investigations that have been underway on the location being considered for the construction of the new library building.
“We are ready to give that contract to Greenview Environmental Management,” LaFont said. “KHR is going to have to authorize this contract.”
Greenview Environmental Management in Bancroft is asking for the contract, and is also asking for KHR Works Superintendent Clifford Yantha, and his team, to put several hours of backhoe work in for several holes that need to be dug.
This work will need to be completed before the ground freezes.
The cost of Greenview is approximated to be up to $15,000, which is money that can be afforded through the help of the library fund.
Duncan Ross is the architect of choice, and was the second item LaFont wished to discuss with council.
The architect has offered a preliminary contract for design which includes six meetings.
The first meeting, the architect meets with the public, discussing what they wish to see in the new library. The second, he brings forward a basic design, which the public will then discuss.
“He will hold these public meetings, and run them to get feedback on design issues,” LaFont said.
With HST, the cost comes out to approximately $10,200, which LaFont believes is a good deal.
Councillor Debbie Pecoskie agreed that they were receiving an excellent deal for the amount of work they will be doing.
“He has to have the site investigations beforehand,” LaFont said. “To do significant design, he needs to have those tests in his pocket.”
The investigations will give him the information needed such as elevations, the soil conditions, and so forth.
“We have been invited by Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) to apply for more money,” LaFont noted. “This is money left over in this financial period ending on February 28, 2013.”
“That is very, very good,” Mayor Janice Visneskie said.
“So lucky us if there is money left over,” Councillor Isabel O’Reilly stated.
Money has been invested in the purposed site; however council has not provided any written commitment to the site.
“Some of the major gifters are already saying, ‘has council committed to this?’ We say, ‘well, verbally.’ But they would like to know,” LaFont said.
“I don’t think we are going to have any problem at all giving you a letter,” Visneskie said. “I can understand they don’t want to give you money unless they know.”
Leaving the idea with council, they will discuss it further and be in contact with LaFont once it has been properly written and discussed.
The last item discussed was the website.
Council approved the surveys, as well as the architect of choice and the website. However, they need to work on the wording of the letter they will be signing, stating that the site is guaranteed for the new library.
VOLUNTEER NETWORK
Volunteer Coordinator Maria Mayville took over next, discussing several past events, as well as upcoming.
Mayville asked council to ask permission to apply for funding through the EODP, the program that is helping fund the new Killaloe library.
She is hoping to receive funding for economic, tourism, and/or business development activities and marketing strategies, such as bringing the newsletter to life.
“It was one of the places we were looking at. The idea of the newsletter that I keep mentioning, it has to start somewhere. But it is not intended to be township driven. So we are hoping that once it gets established, it is out, it’s in the community,” Mayville said. “We are asking for council’s permission for us to try.”
“The cost of actually manufacturing and getting it out, that is the funding we are looking at,” she added.
The next item was fish restocking.
“I am going to try and keep that fish stocking on the front burner in the community. So people don’t forget about it,” Mayville said.
Mayville added that it was wonderful for the students when they participated in restocking the fish on October 22.
“It was a great day,” she said.
Mayville brought this issue to council as a reminder that the stocking of Round Lake is continually ongoing, and the community is able to donate to their heart’s content.
Story continues in the November 14, issue of The Valley Gazette.