Construction of new library on hold as land deal worked out

TATAMAGOUCHE - Cutting through red
tape to acquire land is stalling the
construction of a new library for the residents of Tatamagouche.
A site on the village's Main Street, owned by the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, was selected last fall as the preferred location to construct a new library for the village but the municipality has not yet acquired it.
"We had hoped the building would be literally built by now," said Colchester County Coun. Jimmie LeFresne.
"The school board was asked about this nine months ago and it got caught up in a procedural process, but it appears that process has been worked through."
He said county staff have been working toward the acquisition of the land with school board staff and the result of the negotiations will soon be brought to the board for a decision. The board's decision will then be presented to council next month.
The land has already been appraised in anticipation of the transfer of ownership from one arm of the government to another.
LeFresne said the land has to be secured before they can move forward with design plans for the building, a process that will engage the local community.
"We're hoping to call for volunteers and start our design committee in January, with the goal to start construction in the spring," said the councillor.
Last fall the estimated cost of constructing the building was about $350,000.

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