Kentville's new library homeless

By Kirk Starratt & Jennifer Hoegg

Kings County Advertiser

The county is not prepared to give the Kentville library a chunk of land it thought it had.

Kings County council approved a motion during an in camera session Nov. 3 to advise the Friends of the Kentville Public Library Society the land off Justice Way the group had identified as the preferred site for its future library is unavailable - at least until council makes a decision about a proposed tri-government complex.

Council is considering whether or not to make a substantial investment in upgrading its current municipal complex in Kentville, developing a new tri-government complex in New Minas in conjunction with various partners, or some combination of the two options. The library’s desired lot is east of the municipal complex, behind its lower parking lot, and could be involved in either the complex’s renovations or potential sale of the entire property.

Following an in camera session at Kentville council’s October council advisory committee meeting, Mayor Dave Corkum said the town is interested in developing “a back-up plan for the Friends so they can move forward if that’s necessary.

“I can’t go over our in-camera discussion,” Corkum said. “It’s a situation where there seems to be some disappointment. The Friends of the Library felt the county had offered the site on Justice Way but, at this time, the county feels it can’t commit to it.

“As a contingency plan, we will try to work with them to find another site within the town suitable for the purposes.”

Friends of the Kentville Public Library Society chairwoman Frances Schagen could not be reached for comment prior to deadline.