As the new Sheep River Library in Turner Valley nears completion, a decision now has to be made on the future of the old library’s space on the first floor of the Town of Black Diamond’s municipal office.
During preliminary budget discussions Jan. 18, the idea to convert the space into new council chambers for Black Diamond was brought up by several councillors.
The current council chamber is located on the second floor of the Town’s municipal office. The library is currently located on the main floor, but the space will become vacant in March when they move into their new building in Turner Valley.
However, Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown said there are no official plans yet as to how that space will be used.
“(Moving the council chambers downstairs) could potentially happen… But it’s just ideas being thrown about at this point. At this point, everything is still very preliminary,” Brown said.
Brown said she doesn’t believe there is a pressing need for new council chambers, but added space is getting tight as the Town’s staff continues to grow.
“(Our current council chambers) space is workable and it has worked for us for a long time,” Brown said. “So is there a need for a new space? Potentially. Our staff is growing, and the needs of the administration area are growing. So we are going to look at different opportunities.”
However, Brown said she would be more inclined to move a community-focused program, like Family and Community Support Services, to a main floor space that is easily accessible to the public.
“That would be higher on my list of considerations than moving council chambers downstairs,” she said.
During the budget talks on Jan. 18, funding for renovations were addressed and they could come from the library’s reserve funds, worth about $66,000.
Brown said the decision of how those reserve funds are allocated would be made once property tax assessments are in.
Black Diamond resident Jim Harris said he is not in favour of moving the council chambers downstairs.
“I’m not big on throwing money after money. We have a set of offices that until now have been more than adequate,” Harris said.
Harris said he would need to see the numbers of how much money would be spent on renovations before deciding if he is in favour.
“I would like to drive a Cadillac, but I can’t afford it, so I drive a small car,” he said. “I think the same goes for town council. If they’ve got the money, go ahead and spend it. But when they jack my taxes up, how ludicrous is it to go out and spend more money?”
Harris said his property taxes went up $600 last year and his taxes in Black Diamond and substantially higher than what he was paying in Bragg Creek where he had a significantly larger home on an acreage. Harris moved to Black Diamond three years ago.
Whether a council chamber on the main floor would be more accessible, Harris said he doesn’t think it makes any difference.
“There’s a nice easygoing ramp to go up to the upstairs one anyway. It’s never been a problem for me, and I’m a senior,” Harris said.
