Council makes strategic choice to delay library tender
Clearview Township council has decided to proceed with the expansion at the Creemore Branch of the Clearview Public Library, but tenders will not be called until January 2027.
A motion to send the project out for tender was on the agenda for last week’s council meeting, but will be delayed on the advice of Clearview CAO John Ferguson.
He said it will take several months to complete detailed drawings to get ready for tendering.
“Knowing that it would likely not go to tender until early summer, we’re making a strategic decision to delay calling tenders until next January,” said Ferguson. “Typically, prices are higher in summer when most builders are busy, so we’re likely to get better prices by waiting.”
The 1,000 square foot addition will be funded through development charges. The overall budget of $ 930,000 will come from specific charges levied against developers to accommodate growth, not from property taxes.
Library CEO Jennifer LaChapelle said plans call for the expansion to include a tutorial room, an additional accessible washroom, more leisure seating, additional space for books and an area where people can charge their laptops and work.
“Some of the collection is currently housed in the meeting room and we want to get that out into the stacks where it belongs,” said LaChapelle. “Then we’ll be able to use it as a meeting room and start our first makers space.”
While plans for the makers space are still in the development stage, LaChapelle says it is likely to include an additional Cricut cutting machine, a 3D printer, photo scanner and laser cutter.
A preliminary estimate from RJ Burnside puts the cost of the building expansion at around $ 730,000. The additional budget will cover items like landscaping and parking lot improvements. Site plan approval includes the establishment of a new municipal well and pumphouse on the south east section of the library lot.
“We’ve built a lot of things in our township so we know how difficult it is to get the right developer, the right builder,” said Mayor Doug Measures. “We will hold off on issuing tenders until next January when we can find the right builders available.”
LaChapelle was in support of council’s decision to hold off on calling for tenders.
