Huron Expositor, 2007-06-13, Page 2Page 2 June 13, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
News
Council looking into building new library facility and
designating current Carnegie library in Brussels
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
While Huron East council is look-
ing into designating the current
Brussels Library as a historical
building, the actual library could be
housed in a new and separate build-
ing altogether.
Following the recommendation of
the majority of close to 40 Brussels
residents in attendance at a recent
public meeting about the Brussels
library, council has decided not to
alter the current Carnegie building
to meet needs of Huron County for
more space and accessibility in the
library.
Two options discussed at the pub-
lic meeting included adding to the
west side of the existing building or
building a new library on newly -
purchased land.
But, councillors argued over
whether a new $1 million facility
recommended by architects was the
way to go.
"I couldn't justify a $1 million
building," said McKillop Coun. Bill
Siemon, adding that the current
library is already losing money.
Brussels Coun. David Blaney
argued that all municipal buildings
including arenas
lose money.
"I get a little
angry when you
suggest we lose
money on the
library. You
wouldn't suggest
we shouldn't
have arenas and
they lose money.
If we don't
expand the
library, we're
going to lose it,"
he said.
"A communi-
ty centre has a
lot more use
than a library,"
countered
Siemon.
Blaney point-
ed out that the
Brussels library
is often full of
students using
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computers for homework and those
students are from families who can't
afford to provide a computer at
home.
While Siemon cited numbers he
said backed up an assertion that
"very few people" were using the
Brussels library, Mayor Joe Seili
disagreed saying the usage has gone
up over the past six years.
"It's young and old," he said.
Tuckersmith Coun. Les Falconer
also questioned building a $1 mil-
lion facility for the library in
Brussels, adding that the popula-
tion of the village has declined over
the past 30 years and will likely
continue to decline.
"We're not convincing people to be
farmers. Is it worth spending that
kind of money on a little village," he
asked.
Siemon expressed the opinion
that Huron East should continue to
use the current library, install a
chair lift to make the building
accessible and increase the operat-
ing hours but was told that idea
wasn't an option.
Clerk -Administrator Jack
McLachlan explained that council
committed itself several years ago
to bring the building up to provin-
cial standard.
Seili added that the study on pub-
lic libraries in Huron County was
done 11 years ago.
"We've been able to drag our butts
that long and it's time to pay the
piper," he said.
Seaforth Coun. Bob Fisher asked
why a new library building couldn't
cost less than half of the estimated
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$1 million.
"We already own the land.
Theoretically, it could be $450,000,"
he said.
Falconer agreed that a kitchen
and meeting room are not needed in
the new library, pointing out that
the arena and several churches
already have meeting rooms and
kitchens.
"How do we get the price down to
a reasonable price?" asked Falconer.
Seili pointed out similar sized new
buildings in the area erected for
$365,000.
"No one's ever intended to spend
$1 million on that building," added
Blaney.
McKillop Coun. Andrew Flowers
asked what would happen to the
current library building if it is not
used to house the library.
"We're had two requests to buy it.
The idea is to put the designation
on first to preserve it," said Blaney.
Correction
Morris-Turnberry Coun. Mark
Beaven is not bald. Yet. The Huron
Expositor incorrectly reported last
week that Beaven, who is planning
to shave his head in support of
Childcan - a charitable organization
that works with the Oncology
Department at the Children's
Hospital of Western Ontario in
London - had already done so.
There is still time to support Beaven
on the evening of June 29 outside
Cinnamon Jim's in Brussels,and
watch him achieve "the Kojak look."
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