County council has approved a redesigned Puslinch Township library in Aberfoyle.
Council made that decision at a special council meeting on Aug. 12 after a presentation by architect Lloyd Grinham, of L. Grinham Architects, of Guelph.
He has been working for the past two months to find savings in the project that was rejected by county council in June because of ballooning costs. He said when tenders came in at $400,000 over the original budget, council asked for a redesign.
Grinham said his new plan will reduce those costs by about $450,000. The construction tender that came in at $-1.91-million is now expected to be about $1.75-million.
“We believe, with the changes, there will be tens of thousands of dollars to spare,” he said.
That came about by eliminating the basement space. It had included a special work space for staff, and it was fully accessible by an elevator and two staircases, and also had extra washrooms and space for the mechanicals for the building.
He estimated the proposal will reduce the space by 2,300 square feet. As well, it will eliminate groundwater problems that were faced with a basement.
Grinham said the ground floor was modified to ensure everything needed there is in place, and there will be plenty of space for the library and the staff, and there is a “generous lobby and corridor space.”
He added that entrance will now be from the north side of the building, instead of the first proposed east side.
Councillor John Green asked if that will be next to the parking lot.
Grinham said it would, and adjacent to accessible parking, and the new design leaves the library with a slightly larger “footprint.”
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj said the reason she called the August meeting was because of the proposal.
Grinham said the tenders could be sent out “next week.”
Councillor Rod Finnie told Grinham, “It sounds to me like it’s an improvement from a financial point of view.”
He asked if the mechanical system will now be on the main floor.
Grinham said it will, and added that those system requirements had changed and will take up less space. The reductions were caused by eliminating the basement and reducing mechanical requirements in the building.
Finnie asked if there will still be storage and work space for the staff.
Grinham said that would “remain about the same” as in the first proposal.
“What’s lost is some supplementary work space and some storage,” he said.
Councillor Lou Maieron said he is pleased with the new plan. He said he is looking forward to “a state of the art library and saving half a million dollars.”
Ross-Zuj noted that the county has completed the purchase of the land and building from Puslinch Township. That council approved the sale the previous week.
She said the only difference with this project is there will be a demolition of a building instead of a renovation, and she expects builders to be at the Puslinch site before the end of the year.
As a county councillor, Puslinch mayor, and the chairman of the information, seniors and heritage committee that oversees libraries, Brad Whitcombe said the township will now receive “a better library for less money. I believe Lloyd sharpened his pencil and did a great job.”
When council considered the bylaw authorizing a cost sharing agreement between the township and county, Whitcombe said the library board had approved the changes and the agreement and was recommending that to council.
Councillor Lynda White wondered how Puslinch residents will receive service with the old library gone and a new one yet to be built.
Whitcombe said a portable library has already been set up, and the old library is emptied.
“That’s why there is some interest in proceeding,” he said. The old one is empty.”
Council was unanimous. Councillors Carl Hall and Gord Tosh were absent.
