Library closer to construction
By Chris Simon

Cookstown residents are one step closer to getting their new library and community centre.

An Innisfil capital budget committee recommended about $1.5 million in new funding for the complex, which is scheduled to be built on the current Cookstown Fairgrounds site near Highway 89, during a meeting last week.

While the funding still needs to be approved by town council, the site is greatly needed by Cookstown residents, said Innisfil Public Library vice chair Anne Kell.

"This (project) will provide Innisfil residents with the opportunity to use new library services," she said.

The proposed new library and community centre has an overall price tag of nearly $5.2 million, which includes building expenses and other fees.

The building costs were specifically pegged at about $3.5 million, however architects can lower that estimate by several hundred thousand dollars, by finding savings in construction materials and modifying the original design proposal, said Innisfil Public Library CEO Susan Downs.

"This project has been on the books since 2005," she said. "We're now at the point where we have architects and consultants on board. (They) were looking for ways to offset the costs from the original proposal that came forward (earlier this month). On the list of possible reductions, there's very little library content."

Between 2005 and 2007, the town has allocated nearly $3.8 million for the project.

If completed as planned, the building would have several upgrades over the current Cookstown library. It would include over 9,000 square feet of space, adult, young adults and childrens sections, program, community and informal "living" rooms, and office space.

Outside, the centre could eventually feature a baseball diamond, running track, soccer pitch, tennis courts, multi-use concrete surface and a children's spray pad.

But some town councillors worry the project could place Innisfil residents in financial restraints.

"We've got to slow down here," said councillor Dan Davidson. "Do we really need these grandiose halls and libraries? We're in a tight (financial) situation here."

Others agree. Councillor Bill Pring says the library building, if constructed as planned, will act as a smaller version of the town's recreation centre.

"It would appear from the outside looking in that while we've spent millions of dollars on a new recreational facility, each community within the town is going to get their own through the library," he said. "Do we cancel our multi-purpose recreation facility now?"

But councillor Rod Boynton says the community rooms are only intended for meetings.

"It's not a recreation centre we're putting into Cookstown, it's a few meeting rooms," he said. "This is one town. It's in our business plan, it's in our master plan. We're looking at a community of communities, and we have to look at each one of them. If we ever want attitudes in this town to change, we should demonstrate that ourselves. This is a real step forward for Innisfil."

Library staff hope the complex will be built by the end of 2008.