A $2 million library expansion project was a hard pill to swallow for councillors in Prince Edward County just a few months ago, and on September 12, they put their foot down.
Council referred the matter back to staff and the Library Board to answer their unanswered questions regarding the Picton Library expansion project and to have the project fall within the $2 million ask.
Library Board Chair of Finance Sandy Murray appeared at Shire Hall during the Committee of the Whole meeting asking council to award the renovation project to Knudsen Construction Ltd. at a cost of $2.3 million and increase the budget for the project to $2.7 million.
Murray said based on the numbers they have, it means there would be over $1 million to fundraise to come up with the total project cost, something he felt could be done as they have donors waiting in the wings for council assurances.
He said construction could begin next month if council approved their ask.
Mayor Steve Ferguson says the decision was a tough one and no one objected to the project itself, but the new proposed budget.
Councillor Andreas Bolik stated in the past year the project has gone from $1.2 million to $2 million and now to $2.7 million, an increase of 125%.
He said his trust had been broken and he wouldn’t support the motion.
Murray reinforced his feelings that their donors would come through and they would raise the necessary funds and stated the only hit on the taxpayers would be the $320,000 the County committed to the project.
Mayor Ferguson said his concern was if there was a shortfall because that would come out of the taxpayers’ pockets.
Council approved the amended motion to have staff and the library board take another look at the project and have it fall within the agreed upon $2 million.
