Library board want answers from town

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

The on-site assessment which was completed in November 2006 for the High Prairie Municipal Library, was presented to High Prairie Town Council March 28. Library board members attended the meeting to address an ongoing issue that has yet to be resolved. Library chairperson Mike Poulter says the main concern of the library that has to be addressed is the southeast door, which gives entry to the tower of the Moostoos Building. “This exit/entrance was the one the board wanted made wheelchair accessible,” says Poulter, about the project which has taken two years and still not resolved. After being advised by a fire chief the door needed a panic bar, the town tried to solve the issue, says Poulter, but the fix has caused more problems. “At some point, in attempting to make the exit into a crash-bar style exit, public works modified the door mechanism,” says Poulter. “This modification has rendered the door virtually useless as, although the lock has been removed, the inner mechanism is still in place so that when the door is opened, using the crash bar, the inner mechanism can fall free and relock the door if it is closed too hard; or if a wind catches it.” Poulter has asked council to repair the door, as well as, complete their initial request of turning that entrance into wheelchair accessible. Councillor Mike Daubert says this is the third time it is has come to council and adds he doesn’t understand why the door hasn’t been fixed yet. He recommended, with suggestions from the board members, that the door be changed to a wheelchair accessible door and be made a top priority. Other changes that were suggested by Complete Rehab and Wellness Services include the ramp slope for the wheelchairs which is currently too steep, as well as, some minor adjustments to doorways and bathroom stall sizes. Councillor Rick Dumont stated during the meeting that the issues that could be completed quickly were to be done by public works in the near future. Town Manager Larry Baran says he is disappointed that the issue hadn’t yet been resolved since before his time and that he would make some of the items on the assessment a priority. “Some of the items listed on this report are easily addressed and I will arrange for our maintenance staff to address those items almost immediately,” says Baran. “A few of the items noted are significant and, I fear, may be costly. I will complete the appropriate research and advise council on those items, and council will have to determine what is cost-effective to address.”

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