Sections of the Cariboo Regional District’s office in Williams Lake will look a little different in the near future.
On Friday (July 11) the Board approved a recommendation to install some fencing for security purposes.
Board Chair Margo Wagner said a concern came from the library staff that there were people accessing the library and behaving in an unappropriated manner.
“One particular person was removed four times four times in one day by the RCMP and kept coming back. Our main priority obviously is the safety of our staff so CEO Murray Daly made the recommendation to the Board that we put up some fencing.”
Wagner said the library main entrance will be the same, there won’t be any gate or anything.
“The fencing will be in the atrium area around the library’s outdoor seating area where no one can loiter who isn’t a staff member of the library. It still allows staff members to go out and have lunch and there is a one way gate that will allow them to get out. It’s unfortunate but our primary concern is the safety of the staff and when they express to CEO Daly that they don’t feel safe then the Board unfortunately has to step up and do something.”
Wagner added that they will also be putting up some fencing around the loading bay of the CRD as that apparently is an issue.
“We have hired security to walk the sidewalks and try to assist in moving these people along but that’s only 5 days a week during office hours but it’s becoming a bit of a problem at other times too.”
Wagner noted that this is really no different than what Northern Development Initiative Trust in Prince George did at their downtown location.
“It’s unfortunate and I sympathize with the people that are suffering from addictions and have no fixed address right now but our big thing is when staff are complaining that they’re concerned about their safety then we have to do something and fencing is really our only option.”
Wagner said we (CRD) all expressed a bit of concern and it’s too bad that we have got to this stage but unfortunately that is the times we’re in.
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