It looks like Palmerston’s library may be up for sale in the near future.
In a move that echoed Wellington North’s decision the previous Monday, councillors here declared the Palmerston library building as surplus.
The resolution before council was similar to Wellington North’s in its notation that the property requires upgrades to comply with accessibility laws and maintenance for which Wellington County is prepared to assume responsibility.
As well, the county level of government currently manages and operates the library system within Wellington County.
The resolution states, “It is deemed expedient to transfer the said public library property … to the county for nominal consideration on the basis that the property will be transferred back to the town in the event that the county ceases to use and operate the building as a public library.”
The only snag in the discussions is that the Palmerston cenotaph also sits on the same property.
Councillor Wayne Martin commented that recently it was volunteers who did the upgrades to the cement work.
“I’m assuming that if we upgrade the cenotaph in 10 years, we would then have to approach the county.”
He said there needs to be an understanding or agreement regarding the cenotaph if that parcel of land is not severed from the library property.
Clerk Barb Wilson said that Minto’s town solicitor has already contacted the county’s solicitor about that issue.
She said the sale of the library property would be tidier without bringing a property severance into it
“It’s more to protect our interests,” Martin said.
Wellington County is moving to buy the libraries donated by Andrew Carnegie to villages and towns across North America at the turn of the last century. The county believes it has the resources to maintain the historic buildings.
The Fergus and Elora libraries were also built with Carnegie’s donations.
