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Library future considered

The municipality will work with the Okanagan Regional Library board in 2014 to find a new home for the Summerland library branch.

The municipality will work with the Okanagan Regional Library board in 2014 to find a new home for the Summerland library branch.

The present library building, on Wharton Street, was constructed in 1981 and is now much too small to meet the needs of Summerland’s present population. The library has an area of 316 square metres, or 48 per cent of the size required for Summerland’s population, according to calculations from the Okanagan Regional Library.

Since 2003, the library board has been looking for a new location for the Summerland branch.

A proposed development on Wharton Street had been suggested as a location to house the expanded library, but the development plan was halted earlier this year.

Mayor Janice Perrino said the search for a new location will continue in 2014.

In addition, Perrino said the municipality will passively market the Wharton Street property in 2014.

In the past decade, the site has been considered for a multi-building development which would include residential suites, a new location for the library and the Summerland Museum and some retail or commercial space.

Development of the former RCMP site on Jubilee Road East will also be considered in the coming year.

At the same time, Perrino said the municipality is not looking to take on large-scale capital projects in the coming year.

In recent years, the municipality has worked on road upgrades and upgrades to the water system.

“It’s definitely going to be a year of fewer commercial projects,” she said.

A series of goals and objectives for the coming year are posted on the municipality’s website at summerland.ca.

These are the goals as stated:

o Review the financial feasibility of increasing services in key functions.

o Explore opportunities to generate revenue from sources outside taxation and focus those alternate resources on infrastructure improvements.

o Ensure resources remain focussed on rebuilding, repairing, maintaining and enhancing infrastructure.

o Ensure the District remains financially sound and rebuilds surpluses and reserves.

o Ensure there is a continuing vision for Summerland as a sustainable community and there are appropriate planning documents to assist in achieving that vision.

o Maintain our focus on customer service and community engagement.



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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