Wellington County chief librarian Murray McCabe reports considerable progress has been made on the new Hillsburgh library over the summer.
The new portion of the building is now framed in and the interior of the house portion of the project has been stripped back to the frame. Library staff have been working with the architect’s interior designer to select furniture and finishings for the new building.
On Sept. 28 county council approved a library board decision to authorize the chief librarian to spend up to $25,000 on artwork for the children’s entrance and a hanging mobile for the children’s area at the new Hillsburgh library.
The costs for both projects are to be covered by a bequest that the library system is in the process of receiving from the estate of the late Patrick Suessmuth of Erin.
The $3.1-million library project is scheduled for completion in late April.
Facility upgrades
A tender to upgrade parking lots and landscaping at several Wellington County affordable housing facilities at a cost of $412,000 has been awarded to a Mississauga firm. Pacific Paving Ltd. submitted the lowest of five bids for the projects in Guelph, Erin and Harriston.
The work involves:
– $256,634 for paving, curb repairs, new concrete sidewalk and ramp, five new benches, concrete pad with garbage enclosure, new topsoil/sod, parking control lines at a county affordable housing facility on Speedvale avenue in Guelph;
– paving, remove and replace concrete paving on boulevard, concrete pad with garbage enclosure, parking control lines and remove/reinstall precast bumper curbs at facilities on Church and Centre Streets in Erin; and
– paving, removal retaining wall and replace with stone, repair concrete curbs, remove paving stones and replace with concrete, parking control lines, new plantings, one bench and various fence work at facilities on Mill and Elizabeth Streets in Harriston.
County council approved the tender on Sept. 28 on the recommendation of the social services committee.
Trail improvements.
A request from the Township of Wellington North under the county trail funding program for improvements to the Upper Grand Trailway in West Luther has been approved.
County council, on Sept. 28, approved a contribution of $8,185 – half the total cost.
The rail trail runs east from Arthur to the township/county limit, connecting the River Trail in Arthur to the Upper Grand Trailway in Grand Valley.
The trail is also identified in the county’s Active Transportation Plan.
