Centre Wellington council has unanimously agreed to sell the Fergus and Elora libraries to Wellington County for $1 each.
Council considered some concerns from citizens, though, before making the decision.
Councillor Bob Foster wondered if council could continue to own the buildings and use a leasehold agreement whereby the county could pay for extensive renovations.
The county wants to buy the buildings because they are Carnegie libraries, donated to the communities by American financier Andrew Carnegie at the turn of the last century. The county can better afford to maintain them.
In the case of the Elora library, the county has already got plans on display there for renovations that will cost over $1-million. The sale agreement stipulates that the county will use the buildings for libraries, and if it ever stops that use, it will sell them back to the municipality for $1.
Councillor Walt Visser told Foster that two township mayors have now worked on this project, and the township and its residents “should be grateful to the county and the mayors for this agreement.”
Foster argued the township is foregoing revenue it receives from the county for rent.
But, Visser noted, at $50,000 rent per year, it would take years for Centre Wellington to recoup the million dollars in renovations that the county is doing.
Councillor Fred Morris also pointed out to Foster if the county paid that much for renovations, it would rightly ask for a reduced rent.
Foster said he was bringing the issue up because some people apparently did not understand the deal, which has been in the works for several years.
Councillor Shawn Watters pointed out that the buildings will still be assets in the communities’ downtowns, and, when the work on them is completed, “They will be buildings we can be proud of. It’s a tremendous win for Centre Wellington.”
Foster told the mayor the libraries should always remain in the downtowns of the two communities.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj replied, “They will always be libraries,” and noted any change to that use would mean the ownership reverts to the township, and it could then use them as libraries.
“It’s all for the betterment of the municipality,” she said, and suggested that councillors should visit the Elora library to see the plans the county has placed there for that building.
Morris added, “The other alternative is we do the $1-million in renovations ourselves.
Council then voted unanimously to sell the buildings.
