Smithers council is taking a two-phased approach with the Bulkley Valley Art and Culture Centre.
The first phase is looking to create a building for the library and art gallery at veterans park with the visitor’s centre and museum to come later.
The library has indicated they need more space for programming. Mayor Taylor Bachrach says artefacts at the museum are being compromised due to a lack of storage space, something he says council is looking to find an immediate solution to.
Bachrach was at a town hall meeting with over 100 residents this week talking about the need for more space at those facilities.
“People in the community understand the situation and, really, the discussion is how to best tackle those needs; what the priorities are, what the community can afford – those type of questions.”
Bachrach says this year’s budget has about 100 thousand dollars earmarked for planning for the BV Arts and Culture Centre.
Council has shied away from moving ahead with previous plans that would see three different options all totalling over $16 million as a part of a prefeasability study.