Rimbey library board members faced a deluge of verbal bullets as they sat before a crowd armed with what appeared to be more answers than questions about the controversial town office move and library expansion.
The information meeting, held May 22 at the Rimbey Community Centre, was held to provide the public with the facts about the necessity of a library expansion and the consequential move of the town office to the provincial building.
However, despite Coun. Paul Payson’s assurance taxes will not go up as a result of town offices moving to the Provincial Building and librarian Jean Keetch’s intention to see programs cut if the expansion does not take place, the hundred or so people who filled the community centre were mostly naysayers.
“The library is fine, leave it alone,” said longtime resident Adrian Resta.
“There is no reason to see the town office moved anywhere,” said Ray Durand, adding he wasn’t against the library expanding but believed there had to be a better solution than moving the town offices.
Developer Al Ingles said he was going to vote No in the plebiscite, suggesting the library board could obtain an easement and expand back to the lane behind the building.
Dave Karroll wanted to know why the library couldn’t move to the Co-op.
“You need to take a serious look at the Co-op,” he said. “Your negotiations never made it to the board.”
Betty Adam wanted to know why the library held such events as wine tasting and mother-daughter teas, noting the manor was better suited for such events.
“Build a new building,” said resident Daryl Hunt. “In the long run it’s cheaper than renovating an old building. In the long run it will pay you dividends.”
Moving into the Al Ingles building, using two locations; one for books and one for programs, and building a second storey onto the town office were other solutions brought up by the audience.
Annette Boorman was the only resident in attendance who said she planned to vote Yes June 3.
“I commend the library board for all the work and the research they have done,” she said.