The county’s library committee had plenty of questions about spending $5 million over the next two years in the capital plan for an expanded Fergus library – but council itself had little to say when it approved the minutes on Nov. 24.
That is a preliminary five year capital plan for the majority of library spending over the next two years. Council has yet to go through its five year forecast to formally decide what it can afford to include or what to delete. The plan included an extra $50,000 for renovation work at the library at Centre 2000 in Erin.
While the planning for the Fergus building is still preliminary, councillors had no comment on a recommendation from the committee to implement a design competition for the architectural services for that project. The two architect firms being asked to compete are VG Architects, of Brantford (formerly Ventin Group, a long time architect used by the county) and Lloyd Grinham Architect, of Guelph, who has also done projects for the county.
A note in the minutes stated staff were directed to include architect’s fees as part of the request for proposal, with fees included in the overall price. Councillors also agreed that the unsuccessful company would receive $5,000 for its work on its presentation. The county has paid such a fee in the past because of the expense of preparing a proposal.
Councillor Jean Innes had a comment on the library committee minutes. She said it is “absolutely time for the Fergus library to move forward.”
She noted the library is in the ward she represents and, like she did for the Elora library renovations, she would like to sit on the design committee for the Fergus work.
She said the Fergus library is “a much loved and much used library and it works well. I want to be careful with the design so we don’t break it.”
Innes said she had been asked by a long time user that the Fergus library “not become big and impersonal” but that user added, “We’re powerless. You will do what you want to do.”
Innes said the design committee should “reach out for the community and staff, and pass that on to the architect before the design process.”
She offered an amendment that council “establish Fergus library needs and vision” to the motion. That amendment carried, and then council approved the entire information, seniors and heritage committee report, including committee recommendations.
