St. Albert councillor wants to close the book on library battle

A week after St. Albert Coun. Bob Russell's became embroiled in a public battle with supporters of a new library, the city councillor is hoping to turn the page with project proponents.

Last Tuesday Russell complained at a committee meeting he had been inundated with messages from residents pushing him to approve the new facility.

He threatened to cut his support for the new building if any more of the "same email"  messages flooded his inbox.

The pre-written emails were part of the library board's campaign to rally public support for their proposal, and gave residents the option of sending a pre-written letter to councillors.

"I've had it up to here with that," Russell told to library board chair Charmaine Brooks.

"As of tomorrow morning, I'm going to deduct the amount of money I would have voted for this branch library by 100 bucks for every one of those (emails) that I get."  

Russell spoke about the controversy that erupted after those comments during a Wednesday morning radio interview on CBC's Edmonton AM show.

He suggested it wasn't just the letter writing campaign that had him frustrated. Russell claimed hackers broke into his email account, and started sending misleading messages out to other councillors.

"They made it appear as if I was now strongly in favour of the branch library, that we should vote for it this year, put the $2 million up and so on," said Russell.

"I was trying to get their attention, and I did,  because now they have shut it down."

Despite apologizing to upset library supporters, Russell said the campaign for the new library still won`t get his support.

A request for $2 million, required to purchase property for the new branch, will be up for debate Thursday Nov. 26, and Russell says he'll be voting against the proposal.

Instead of building an entirely new branch, Russell said he would prefer to see the existing facility upgraded, and would like to see any vote on the matter delayed.

"And I know a lot about branch libraries, I'm a former library board member. That's what really bothered me, no one bothered to call me talk to me about this."

The St. Albert Library board has declined a request for an interview, but did provide a statement from Brooks to CBC News.

"The Library Board is delighted with the response from the public and hope their obvious support for a new branch library will resonate with City Council as they make decisions on the budget. St. Albertans are long-overdue more library space," the statement said.