Town council’s decision to go to a public vote regarding the library expansion and the subsequent relocation of the town offices to the Provincial Building is being met with a mixed reaction.
Council chambers was packed April 29 when council decided, in a 4-1 vote, to hold a plebiscite regarding the issue but not everyone applauded their move.
Jim Moore, who was in attendance at the meeting, agreed with Coun. Scott Ellis, who voted against the plebiscite and stated council needed to stand by its original decision.
“It was a good plan. It met the needs of the library, it was relatively inexpensive and it used up unoccupied space in the Provincial Building which has all the amenities to make a wonderful town office.”
Moore said people who live in Ponoka County and use the Rimbey library will not have a vote, therefore the plebiscite will not fairly represent all library users.
“In trying to bend over backwards to accommodate the community’s wishes, council is, ironically, being undemocratic.”
However, Rowena Aitken, chairman of Rimbey Municipal Library board of directors said in a letter to council, a plebiscite is needed.
“After great discussion at our last board meeting April 8, we have decided that we will ask you to put the question of the Rimbey Municipal Library’s expansion to the municipal voters. We do not like to see the town become divisive over this issue nor do we like the negative impact it is having on the library. We feel that, unfortunately, this is the only way to stop the negativity.”
In her letter, Aitken also requested the town seek the advice of an engineer for feedback on the viability of expanding or renovating the building to accommodate both the library and the town offices.
Reuben Giebelhaus, who began a petition — later deemed invalid — to protest council selling the building for $1, was not surprised by council’s decision.
“Really, I think it was the only thing they could do or else they would have had to drop the whole issue. Hopefully the wording (of the plebiscite question) will be made public before June 3 to be sure people can understand it.”
Giebelhaus is in favor of expanding the municipal building to accommodate both the library and the town office.
“It makes economic sense to enlarge the library and keep the town office as a valuable asset rather than give it away for a dollar.”