In response to the potential new library debate, I offer a contrarian opinion. I have read differing opinions with little in the way of suggested solutions besides build or not build. I am amazed that we are looking at a $20-million expenditure and zero discussion has taken place about existing space. Now, I know there will be some who cry foul on this last sentence, but I will challenge their thought.
When I say existing space I mean the city owned existing space that takes a separate tax line to pay for. Yes, that is Servus Place. I have been almost a daily user of the space for years and I see the Morinville room empty outside of a few tournaments, the second floor meeting room empty almost all the time, and the Skybox Grill area is almost always vacant.
So when we debate the merits of spending $20 million, we need to ask about existing space outside of City Hall. Difficult questions like do we need another empty restaurant in this town or can we move the art studios from city hall to the Servus Place meeting rooms. Restaurant space should be considered and needs to be discussed. Moving the art studios from city hall would free up river view space for community meeting rooms and allow for the library to expand into existing meeting room space for far less than $20 million.
As a taxpayer I know the whole debate about Servus Place and the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce goes way back and removing restaurant space would reignite that dispute. But to quote a 2011 Gazette article on the matter “The pressure that we get from the public is enormous to get Servus Place to break even,” Cathy Heron said. Well I would challenge Cathy and others to remember that taxpayers still want Servus Place to break even, but we would give a lot of leeway if it meant saving $20 million dollars.
Dave Cunningham, St. Albert
