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Morinville, Sturgeon at odds over library funding

Sturgeon County residents will likely continue paying higher fees at the Morinville library as an ongoing argument over funding turns another page.

Sturgeon County residents will likely continue paying higher fees at the Morinville library as an ongoing argument over funding turns another page.

County councillors approved $35,557 for the Morinville Public Library when they handed out their annual library allocations on Feb. 23. It’s part of a funding transfer to support community libraries that also includes Gibbons, Redwater, Bon Accord and the Edmonton Garrison.

Though it has no libraries of its own, Sturgeon is a member of the Northern Light Library system and paid $156,386 to the system in 2010.

Most of that money comes back to Sturgeon and the county then allocates it to community libraries, including the one in Morinville, with no strings attached.

Sturgeon also gives another $12,000 split between the five libraries, depending on whether the libraries charge county residents the same membership fees as local residents.

While the other community libraries have agreed to that condition, so far the Morinville library has declined.

An adult membership at the library costs Sturgeon County residents $20 per year, while Morinville residents pay just $10.

Morinville Coun. Joe Trapani, who sits on the library board, said the $3,000 from the second grant doesn’t even come close to the county’s fair share. Until Sturgeon increases funding, the split rates will remain.

“It still doesn’t cover our costs. They are not pulling their weight,” he said. “We just want them to pay their share, nothing more, nothing less.”

Morinville budgeted $250,752 for the library in 2010. The two Sturgeon grants total $38,557, including the $3,000 Morinville has rejected.

Trapani said a much larger percentage of Sturgeon residents use the Morinville library than what the county covers.

“Over 35 per cent of our library users in Morinville are county users and they don’t pay even close to 35 per cent — not even a third of that.”

When county councillors made their decision on Feb. 23, administration told them the $3,000 Morinville was passing up was a greater sum than what the library receives by charging county residents higher rates.

Trapani said that isn’t the case, arguing the differential in fees brings in $6,000 to the library.

Sturgeon Coun. Karen Shaw has asked for more information and more numbers before she makes up her mind.

“I am a facts kind of person; I want to get all those numbers and make sure it is an apples to apples comparison.”

Shaw said she might be open to having the county pay more for library services, but she wants to see hard numbers.

“I don’t think county ratepayers should have to pay more, so it means looking at all the numbers to make sure we are paying our fair share, then that is what we are doing right now.”

County residents could still get a library card from one of the other community libraries, which would also provide access to Morinville. But Trapani said those libraries could soon charge higher fees as well.

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