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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-05-19, Page 2S � y Exeter Time. v.c t* o, , Wednesday, May 19, 1999 In the News Town council hears public's views on library Continued from front page the prime Main St. loca- tion and fits in with the town hall complex idea while solving the lack of space problem. Huron County head librarian Beth Ross said the county library board has "wholeheartedly endorsed" a new Exeter library and will provide the furnishings and shelv- ing for the new building as well as increase its lease payment to the town based on square footage. Stratford architect Terry Marklevitz, the Olde Town Hall architect, out- lined the current library's deficiencies and the rea- sons why the tearing down and rebuilding option was best. The deficiencies include an old wiring system; an aging mechanical system; code violations including no fire separations; no safe means of exit; a lack of accessibility for those with mobility problems and no handicap accessi- ble washrooms; no venti- lation besides windows; no air conditioning. The renovation/expan- sion of the former police station would be the cheapest one at $450,000 but the town would still have to per• for the cur- Limiter using for summer school students rent library to be brought up to code which could be expensive. Building a new library would cost about $550,000 and renovat- ing/expnding the existing library would cost more than $550,000. Councillors are in favour of pushing ahead with the new library.. "It's time we do some- thing about this," Reeve Roy Triebner said. "It's been on the back burner too long." Coun. Joe Hogan said the committee is looking at which government grants the library project could be eligible for like the federal Millennium program that has an October '99 .application deadline. , Exeter area library board rep Fran Ritchie asked whether the com- mittee has asked area community groups for donations. Hogan and Mayor Ben Hoogenboom replied' groups are hesi- tant to commit to such large projects till there are plans and deadlines in place. Triebner said the town has already set aside $100,000 for the new library and council may choose to spend some of the. $240000 provincial Special Circumstances Fund grant on the library. Triebner added there is a lot of competition for donation dollars, especial- ly with the proposed Exeter medical clinic also vying for contributions. Hoogenboom feels the library drive will be suc- cessful despite thy con- flicting campaigns. "I do believe the people will support it," he said. When asked if down- town businesww . were on side, Golif' 'd the awarene ;mess owners . ibrary's downtown impact was mixed. Seventeen people per hour visit the library each hour it is open, a fig- ure Golding said is more than the average through downtown businesses. On top of that, library patrons spend $30 at downtown stores during a trip that includes a library visit. Clerk -treasurer Elizabeth Bell brought up the idea of linking the library with the town hall. Marklevitz said it would be difficult to connect the two buildings since the two have different floor levels but conceded the two separate buildings should complement each other. "I think it's important the library building have its own .identity," he said. Dorothy Chapmai sug- gested the library have a second floor that could be rented out as officespace to generate revenue so the library is "no longer a burden to the taxpayer." She also suggested the surrounding townships contribute to the project since many of their resi- dents use the library. "Why has this become the entire burden of the taxpayers of Exeter?" she asked. It was noted that Stephen and Usborne townships have represen- tatives on the Re - Development Committee and those communities have their own library branches. Golding added a one - storey, stand-alone build- ing is the ideal library. environment. The Exeter library now has 6,000 members and 45,000 items are loaned each year. Golding said those numbers are likely to go up steadily for four to five years when a new, larger library is opened before interest plateaus. : She added the 17 people per hour use of the library should also go up by Michele Greene SEAFORTH Secondary students attending summer school will get a one-way ticket to Mitchell each day. Last Tuesday night, Jim Moore, assistant superin- tendent, told trustees that there is transporta- tion funding available only for elementary stu- dents attending summer school at Mitchell District High School. However, if there is roop for secondary school students, they may board the bus in the morning. This year, there is just one location for summer. school at Mitchell District High School. The elementary pro- gram for Grade 8 lan- guage and mathematics will begin at 8:30 a.m. Chowing down On May 15, eight-year-old Clint Smith was one of more than 700 people who supported Exeter's M&M Meat Shop's barbecue to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. Ex- eter's location raised $ 1,542. Similar barbecues were held at M&M Meat Shop locations all across Canada. and run until 11:30 a.m. Mitchell. The second The secondary school route will commence in program will also com- Listowel, proceed to mence at 8:30 atm. but Stratford and then come will continue until 12:30 to Mitchell. Students will have to provide their own transportation to pick up points which have not yet been estab- lished. p.m. Because the funding is intended for the elemen- tary .students, Moore said the buses will leave when the younger stu- dents are finished class. Trustee Abby Armstrong suggested giving the elementary students a recess to extend their day until 12:30 p.m. That way, the secondary students could ride home with them. "One way doesn't help," she said. Moore , said_. the day couldbe extended. However, the. board would have to accept additional costs in staffing in order to have teachers available to supervise the elementary students. Two bus routes will be operated for summer school. One will begin in Wingham, continue to Clinton and arrive in Correction In a story in last week's T -A about the upcoming 40th anniver- sary at McGillivray Cen- tral Public School the following names were spelled incorrectly: Lois Sutherland, April Whit- ing and Gary Dixon. The T -A regrets the errors, ' to 20-25 per hour. The committee was told by these present to make sure the new library is big enough for the demand and for future expansion of services. Town chief administra- tive officer Rick Hundey said the next step for the new library is for the committee to figure out the exact size and func- tion and then either select an architect or invite some architect proposals. Blue Water Rest Home AIRKILUIL, MEITEI{KM to be held Tues., June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Blue Water Rest Home. Zurich Chairman: Stuart Steckle Secretary: Donna Thiel RQo :` .., - - Ask about our - � SQL. `Frequent Shopping Card�. Plant! 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