Wily old fox
During the City of Powell River council meeting of February 21, Councillor Chris McNaughton put forward a motion to review additional options for the new library [“McNaughton stands alone,” February 27]. This would seem to be a reasonable, and yes, necessary and responsible motion, in view of the current new library project dilemma:
• Higher than expected costs, at $9.5 million.
• Signed opposition, with 5,000-plus individuals, opposed to the Willingdon Beach library site location.
• The recent traffic report from 2012 that did not provide a financially viable solution for the intersection of Marine Avenue, Alberni Street and Abbotsford Street and safety concerns.
The above information became available through the process of preliminary review and citizen response, which is a normal process. At this point council is expected to review the existing information and determine the best course forward.
The motion to review alternatives was defeated. In view of the above concerns, why would council not welcome the opportunity to review alternatives? Does council expect and/or even prefer the new library project to fail?
Of significance, in the new information, is the projected cost of $9.5 million due primarily to the selection of a unique custom-designed building. For comparison purposes the new library cost equals $631.02 per square foot (as per the new library report) verses the new Westview Elementary School at $295.65 per square foot, half the cost per square foot.
Additionally, the volume of opposition to the site location caught many by surprise, including council. It prompted council to pass a motion to hold a referendum on site location, sometime in the future.
All of these elements have aligned into a virtual mission impossible: high costs, with council failing to review other alternatives; 5,000-plus signatures in opposition to the site location; and fundraising difficulties due to the pending referendum.
Is council (the wily old fox) content to proceed with mission impossible, expecting the project to fail, therefore avoiding unaffordable costs and not having to say “no” to any particular group?
Paul McMahon
Invermere Court
Following example
Recently I visited a little town on the west coast of Mexico called El Monteon. Some of you may have been there.
Through local donations and a little bit of help from the Mexican government, the community has built a new town square, complete with gardens and with benches to sit on under palm trees.
Why did it build this town square? So locals would have a place to sit and visit with the other people in the community.
It’s called local communication and civic pride. These people do not have a lot of money; many of the streets are not paved.
We in Powell River, on the other hand, are balking at building a new library that will be a place with a wonderful view where people can sit and talk, and yes, communicate [“Library seeks advice,” January 30].
Many people in Powell River think a library is a place where you go to get books. Well it is, but it is a lot more. You can read newspapers from different towns, get DVDs. Some cannot afford a Kindle or a computer; the library has them for everybody.
Every town that can call itself a town has public buildings that fill the populace with civic pride. I think this new library will be a place of civic pride accentuating how we care about the environment.
Many of our residents have lived a life of frugality but now they are older, they should invest in themselves, in their town.
I read about some of these people worrying how much money will go on their property taxes, and yet, they could not spend the money they have even if they lived to be 100.
I don’t want our community to become a place where we live at the bottom of life’s vortex, just ready to get sucked down the drain hole, because we say “no” to everything.
Let us go forward and build the new library and be proud of it, show it off. It will attract people and money to Powell River.
Surely we can do better, living in Canada, the richest country on earth, than a little Mexican village.
Max Ferrier
Random Road
Property owners
According to an original proposed subdivision, I would have five building lots on my one acre of property [“Rights of property owners,” February 20].
There is a year-round creek flowing through the property. Water rights override property rights?
My neighbour wanted to buy one lot to add to his property so he could build his mother-in-law a house. Not possible. He can’t build within 30 metres of the creek. So, that cancelled that purchase.
So now I have two building lots that are worthless. After maintaining the property and the creek for 50 years, this fiasco is rather overwhelming.
I hardly think the City of Powell River will lower my property taxes by two fifths.
I still maintain the property and keep the creek clean but when I need a bridge across the creek for my lawn mower, it’s going to be built without a qualified environmental professional to study the effects it would make.
KD Scott
Manson Avenue
