YORKTON - The controversial sale of the building housing the Yorkton Public Library is off.
“In the Spring, the City of Yorkton was informed that an environmental study was done in the area as part of the tear down of an adjacent building. The study unveiled that there were environmental issues identified on the northern parking lot of the library due to a SaskPower Diesel Plant that used to be located near the area.”
Mayor Mitch Hippsley said SaskPower has reached out to the city and is in the process of cleaning up the impacted area at no cost to the City.
It is important to mention that the structural integrity of the library building remains unaffected by the impacted soil, thereby rendering the facility suitable for continued public use, detailed the city website.
When the library building purchaser “learned of the situation, in light of the possible contamination they decided not to take it,” offered Hippsley.
Council discussed the purchaser opting out of the sale during an in-camera session during the August 14 Council Meeting.
Hippsley said the decision leaves the library in its existing spot.
“It’s a great location,” he said, adding one thing Council has learned through the process is how important the library is to many in the city. He termed it “an education,” calling it “a huge eye opener to Council.”
Ultimately, Hippsley said Council is satisfied the library is staying put, adding it certainly won’t be actively marketed for sale now. He did add the entire matter was not handled as well as it might have been.
“It’s unfortunate we went through this whole controversial process,” he said.
The proposed sale had been something of a hot potato for the city for months.
In June at a regular meeting of Yorkton Council the sale was reviewed in a report by City Manager Lonnie Kaal. The report detailed that at the April 24, Council meeting, all members of Council were in attendance, and the offer to purchase the library building was accepted subject to providing public notice with regards to the price, she noted.
A Public Notice in Yorkton This Week then detailed the city was considering an Option to Purchase the property for $1,500,000. The advertisement called for submissions from the public regarding the potential sale.
Those submissions were presented at a regular meeting of Yorkton Council, and a standing room-only gallery – most there in response to the library had a united voice in telling Council not to sell the building, which would necessitate a library move.
But the die had been cast. While Council did have an option to change their mind on the sale that was not the recommendation of city administration.
“I strongly encourage you not to rescind this,” City Manager Lonnie Kaal told council in June, noting the buyer could seek legal recourse if the offer were rejected. “. . . I do believe the would be significant.”
So the sale of the Library was approved at the June 5, Council Meeting, but as with all sales, conditions were in place and have to be met prior to finalizing the purchase agreement, noted a post on the City of Yorkton website.
During the Council Meeting June 5, Hippsley did introduce a Notice of Motion, whereby Council voted to rescind the decision to relocate the library to the Gallagher Centre, its initial proposed new home, and further directed administration to explore alternative locations to relocate the library to.
City staff had brought forward building options to Council which were contemplated carefully, but given the circumstances, will not proceed with further consideration at this time, meaning that Council has opted to maintain the current location of the library.
