Progress: it seemed like it would never come for the long overdue library and cultural centre, but, since the release of a new construction timeline last December, the expansion and renovation project seems to have a new sense of purpose.
In the past six weeks, work has resumed and, after months of stagnation, we鈥檙e finally seeing progress being made.
That progress is outlined in a report that was presented to council Feb. 10 and includes everything from the grinding of the concrete walls and floors鈥攔epairing previous errors鈥攖o reconstructing the interior roof above the main stairwell and improving existing welds on all suspended pipe grids, stairwells and miscellaneous steel.
With the project already 25 months overdue and scheduled to be completed nearly three years after its original completion date, it can be hard to find positives in the library saga, but progress is certainly one beacon of hope.
And another is the increased accountability and transparency that came with the new timeline. The community now has a document clearly outlining what will be accomplished each month and the contractors are now providing monthly progress reports, allowing the community and council to hold them accountable.
The next report will be presented to council at the March 10 committee-of-the-whole meeting and will outline everything that was completed during the month of February.
After years of secrecy and long silences, these reports are a giant leap in the right direction for the project. It gives the community something to hold onto and it provides faith that the building will, in fact, be open by the new September completion date.
That means arts groups can start planning events for the fall and winter and even apply for grants to make those activities a reality, and it means the library鈥攚hich has been tucked beneath the bleachers far longer than its staff could have ever anticipated鈥攃an finally plan for a future in its new home.
It鈥檚 been a long time coming, but it seems the project is finally on track, with processes in place for progress and accountability.
We look forward to seeing the finished product and celebrating September鈥檚 Alberta Culture Days inside Jasper鈥檚 brand new cultural centre.
