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Funding, finally

Those who were worried about the possible closure of the library need worry no more as Westlock County has come forward with the funds necessary to keep the facility operating as usual.

Those who were worried about the possible closure of the library need worry no more as Westlock County has come forward with the funds necessary to keep the facility operating as usual.

All those who have been asking us when the library situation would be resolved, we can now tell you it has indeed been resolved. We’re very glad the town and country could come to terms on library funding.

However, we join you in asking what took so long? And why so quiet?

We learned from Westlock Intermunicipal Library Board chair Tanya Pollard several months ago that without the county’s contribution, there was only enough money left until the middle of July.

With two weeks left before that deadline, the county has finally come through.

The county is beholden to a 2010 joint services agreement with the town that lays out a 50/50 formula for jointly-funded facilities. It’s an agreement the county was hoping to amend this year, but will have to wait until next. So, theoretically, we could be in a similar situation next year.

To be fair, every single time we asked him, county chief administrative officer Leo Ludwig told us they had no intention of leaving the library high and dry and that it would be funded, one way or another.

Now, we understand the wheels of government move rather slowly, but why was the library board made to wait until they were on their last dollar before the funding was granted?

Why were library employees made to wonder if their jobs would still exist is a week’s time? It just seems like, once again, there could have been better communication.

A June 19 meeting between the two councils was held in-camera and nobody really had a lot to say about it afterwards.

Pollard found out about the deal from us when we called her for comment. She didn’t have a bad word to say, but wondered why she was finding out through us.

So, was the whole situation blown out of proportion?

We know some say will yes, and lay the blame with us, but when the library board chair comes forward to say the library may be forced to close down, we take it seriously, and we print it.

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