County council passed its 2010 budget on Jan. 28 without any major changes to the document they viewed at a special meeting on Jan. 18.
There will be an increase of 2.6%. For the average County of Wellington household, the increase is about $53.
Because council won its arbitration hearing with Guelph, there was no extra factor for the budget, but information, seniors and heritage committee chairman Brad Whitcombe had to make a strong case to keep a projected $500,000 increase for a new Puslinch library in the plan.
Even then, council voted to slow down library projects.
Whitcombe said the current Puslinch library, built in 1981, has a leaky roof and mould in it. There are access issues for washrooms, and the county’s policy will ensure a new, green, building standard. He said repairing it “didn’t make sense” so council agreed on a new building where the old one currently sits.
He said the township’s multi-use recreation building will be erected on the property at the same time, and it will get sewer and water services.
“It makes sense to be doing all that work at the same time,” he said.
Whitcombe said the committee adopted the plan for extra expenditures at its Jan. 13 meeting. On Jan. 18, some councillors expressed surprise at the extra projected spending.
Councillor Lou Maieron asked about the extra space in the library. Whitcombe said the local historical society wants a small room for its archives and the township will cover that.
Maieron said he is “okay” with community rooms, but noted the county is already building an expensive archives in Aboyne.?He said doing a small room for Puslinch is setting a precedent and it should be considered county wide.
Whitcombe said the township asked for some space, and the proposal is no different than Wellington North Township having extra space for a medical clinic at the Arthur library. He also said once the building is done, the county will own it outright. “We’ve done it enough times,” he said.
Councillor Barb McKay said the library is “an important hub” in the community, but it has only two computers and there is no high speed internet in Puslinch, so there is always a line-up for computers at the library. She also noted the local reading club “meets between the stacks” with other patrons busy nearby looking for books.
Councillor Carl Hall said Whitcombe’s presentation was a good one, but, “The only thing wrong was that I would have liked to have heard it four or five months ago.”
Councillor Bob Wilson pointed out that the county has built or made major renovations to five or six libraries in the past several years, and “That’s quite an outcome. There’s increasing resistance to having that accelerated building continue. I don’t want to be the bad guy … We open libraries here regularly and we don’t open much else, like roads.”
Wilson continued, “Soft services always go when times are tough. The reality is we should stop. Times are going to be tough for a while.”
Whitcombe said the county is nearing the end of its library program. Since 2000, it has completed Erin, Marden, Palmerston, Clifford, Arthur, Drayton, done a major renovation in Elora, is completing major work in Mount Forest, with Harriston and one in Centre Wellington to come. The last two are on a five year plan for the next two years.
“We don’t have a lot of capital challenges after that,” Whitcombe said.
Wilson argued the Carnegie libraries are old buildings, and while the county might try, it can never make them to modern green standards.
Councillor Rod Finnie said Puslinch’s current library is in proportion to its population when compared to other county libraries. He said the county could “take some time” with the Puslinch project.
“To tear down a 30 year old building is not a proper use of taxpayers’ money,” he said. He asked that the library issue be decided on a separate vote.
Councillor Chris White said the issue is complicated because “We build too many things too fast. We need to stop this train.”
But, he said, the Puslinch project has been on the books all years. “We need to slow down – but not with this library.” He suggested moving the other capital projects back.
Whitcombe disagreed the county is moving too fast.
“We have a good quality capital forecast. We’re doing great work and giving citizens value for the money.”
When council later discussed the entire budget, Hall said he has an issue with the five year capital forecast, and wanted to spread out the three libraries over five years instead of three. He made that a motion and it carried.
Treasurer Craig Dyer said doing that will have no effect on the 2010 budget or the Puslinch library.
Council then approved its 2010 budget.
“This budget protects our top priorities, but it also reflects current economic conditions,” said Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj. “The county will invest $11.5-million in roads and bridges this year to maintain a safe and efficient transportation network across Wellington. Construction of the new OPP detachment in Centre Wellington will also commence this year.”
She added, “These and other planned capital investments will create jobs in our community.”
Councillor Chris White, chairman of the county’s administration, finance and personnel committee said, “This budget strikes a careful balance between managed spending and protecting county services.”
Chairman of the planning and land division committee Walter Trachsel said, “The County of Wellington’s commitment to the environment is reflected in its $400,000 contribution to the Rural Water Quality Program and the continued growth of the Green Legacy program. This spring, the county will plant 156,000 trees, bringing the total to over one million planted since the program began in 2004.”
Ross-Zuj added, “Our residents expect and deserve an excellent level of service. This modest increase will ensure that all County of Wellington services are maintained and improved if necessary.”
