Library building sold for $467,000
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The Town of Tillsonburg will receive more dollars and retain long-term land ownership in a revamped library agreement with the County of Oxford.
The question of library ownership following Tillsonburg’s decision to join the county library system came up originally at council during an October 16, 2012 meeting. Presented with options including sale or lease of the building, or continued ownership, council voted to declare the building surplus and directed staff to begin negotiations for purchase with County of Oxford counterparts.
There was a difference of $130,000 between appraised valuations of the library building, $467,000 according to that procured by town staff; $337,000 according to one obtained by county staff. Preliminary negotiations between staff moved toward a compromise price of $400,000.
Town of Tillsonburg council voted against that total during a November, 2012 meeting. The following month, additional plans for the building and a willingness to negotiate a higher sale value for the building only, were presented to town council. Further reports came out in January, 2013 along with Oxford County Council’s indication of a willingness to purchase the building for $467,000 and negotiate a long-term lease for the land, at a nominal rate, which in practice would be $2 annually.
This retention of ownership allows the town to continue to be a stakeholder in the endeavour explained Tillsonburg CAO David Calder, a favoured arrangement similar to those with other municipalities within a county library system which includes branches in Brownsville, Burgessville, Embro, Harrington, Ingersoll, Innerkip, Mount Elgin, Norwich, Otterville, Plattsville, Princeton, Tavistock and Thamesford.
“That seems to be important for the county,” Calder stated during Monday’s open meeting of council.
Report DSC 13-05 indicated town staff’s opinion this would be the best option for Tillsonburg, given a fair market value return on investment, revenues which would be directed to town reserves; retention of a piece of important property in the community’s downtown core; county investment ensuring the long-term viability of the library in its current location; and an agreement including a right of first refusal for Tillsonburg, if the county were to declare the building surplus at any point in the future.
Calder clarified the latter point, in a response to a question from Councillor Dave Beres.
“It would be at the market value of the day, but we do have that opportunity,” said Calder.
Councillor Mel Getty opened discussion following presentation of the report, indicating his preference for something of a win/win given Tillsonburg would retain ownership of the land, while the county would be responsible for maintenance and upgrades to the building.
“It gets the library moving forward,” he added.
Getty noted he has heard nothing but positive comments about the decision to join the county library system.
“But I’m hearing a little about when are we getting there.”
Deputy Mayor Mark Renaud concurred, indicating his opinion it was ‘time to move forward.’
Council agreed, passing the recommendation unanimously without further discussion.
Its passage was welcomed at the county level, from where a press release was issued Wednesday, under the heading ‘Plans to modernize Tillsonburg Public Library finalized with sale and lease agreements.’
“Having a formal agreement in place means that we can now move forward with confidence in refurbishing Tillsonburg Public Library and presenting to the community by mid-year a facility that they can be proud of, and that delivers to them a vision they have expressed for local library services,” said County Councillor Margaret Lupton, Board Chair, Oxford County Library in that press release.
“The Town and the County looked at a number of options for ensuring a viable and enduring home for the Tillsonburg Public Library,” said Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif via the same press release. “The option we’ve chosen solidifies the partnership between us and our shared commitment to providing exceptional library services that meet the community’s expectations for the long term.”