Library returning to own spot

Fifteen months after a storm flooded the Yorkton Public Library on Broadway Street forcing the library to a temporary home, things are near ready for a move back to the city-owned building.

The library was one of several buildings in the city severely damaged by torrential rains Canada Day 2010, and while repairs were undertaken had re-located to a spot in the Parkland Mall.

The move had initially been anticipated to be for six months, but it has been more than a year.

The stay in the mall is finally down to a few weeks more, said Darren Spelay, Recreation Services Manager with the City.

"We're hoping to be moved by Oct. 31," he said, adding the target date to re-open in the library's own building is Nov. 1.

Spelay said they have faced a few obstacles in getting the old building back up and running. He added just removing the rain ruined carpet and drywall was a two-month process.

"There have been insurance and supplier delays," he said, adding all is ready now with the exception of laying new carpet. He said they have been told there is a two-three week window in terms of laying the carpet. "Once that's done we can move in."

Once the carpet is in, Spelay said the interior of the library will be exactly as it was pre-flood.

However, as the insurance work was taking place, the City did undertake a renovation upgrade to the building's heating and cooling system.

Roof units which had caused problems in recent years were replaced, said Spelay.

"Those units weren't replaced in 2005," he said in reference to the last major upgrade done on the building. He said changing the units were "the only upgrades we did do to the building," during the last year of work.

As for the costs of the project, Spelay said final numbers are not yet in, adding "some was insurance and some was renovation," so it will take some time to determine the actual cost to taxpayers.