County councillors set one of those just-in-case council meetings for Aug. 12 so everyone could be available if a meeting during the summer became necessary.
And now, Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj said in an interview on July 24, council will meet that day to discuss the Puslinch Township library.
Council in June rejected the calling of tenders for the library because of a sudden increase in costs. Ross-Zuj said the library committee has made some changes to the proposal, and if the county waits until September to call tenders, it will be late in the construction season.
“The [library] board has seen a new design,” she said, and added another delay was that Puslinch Township council had not yet formally sold the land for the library to the county. That sale would be for a nominal fee of $1.
Ross-Zuj said Puslinch council is expected to meet in early August to consider that agreement, and everything could be in place by the time county council meets.
Puslinch Mayor Brad Whitcombe, who is also the chairman of the county’s information, heritage and seniors committee (which includes the library board), said architect Lloyd Grinham presented the library board with some ideas on how to cut costs, and he hopes county council will accept the new design.
“Lloyd did his work,” Whitcombe said in an interview. “He brought it up to the main floor.”
Whitcombe explained that eliminates a full basement, but it also reduced the costs of excavation and problems with water tables.
“We’re in great shape,” Whitcombe said, adding this fall there is a good chance construction companies will be looking for work, and the bidding will be competitive.
Whitcombe said Grinham is confident the project can now be brought in for around $2-million rather than the $2.5-million council rejected in June.
The lowest construction tender was by TRP Construction General Contractors, of Burlington, for $1.88-million. The highest came in it at $2.15-million.
The project included the demolition of the existing library and building a new, 7,600 square foot building, including a basement level that will house the library as well as provide space for the Puslinch Historical Society.
Whitcombe added having the old library demolished separately and having some of the excavation done separately will help cut costs.
When asked about the sale of the land, Whitcombe said, “It will be on our agenda [on Aug. 4]. I see no reason why council wouldn’t support it.”
He explained the township is giving the land and old library up to get a new one. He added that one of the standard agreements in the contract, as it has been in others, is that the building and lands revert to the township is the county ever decides to stop using the building as a library.
“It’s a comfort level for the municipality,” he said.
Plus, he noted, it removes the onus on Puslinch to provide barrier free access to a public building. All public buildings must be handicapped accessible, and that can be expensive.
But, Whitcombe said, “It’s our responsibility that every citizen can use public buildings.”
Whitcombe is hoping all goes well.
“This library can be a celebration for the community and another achievement for the library board,” he said.
