The former Winthrop library will be the new home of the Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Information Center.
The Town of Winthrop and the Chamber of Commerce have reached an agreement under which the chamber will take over the former public library building on Highway 20 as its new Visitor Information Center (VIC).
The agreement was reached at last week’s council meeting, after some discussion about how or whether the existing VIC — in a small building at the four-way stop — will be staffed when the new center opens.
The town-owned building on Highway 20, across from the ball field, has been empty since last May, when it was closed and replaced by the new library on White Avenue. The town has been considering possible uses for the building since then.
When the chamber earlier suggested using the library building as the VIC, the organization cited suggested potential benefits such parking relief for the downtown area; additional restrooms for visitors; and another free Wi-Fi hot spot. The former library building could also provide an office space for the chamber’s new executive director, Ted Lafferty.
“The old library location would be an ideal location for the hub of recreation within the town” as a natural stopping point for visitors, the chamber said.
Under the terms of the one-year agreement discussed at last week’s council meeting, the new center would operate with the same hours and staffing as the existing center — which would remain open and stocked with tourism-related materials, but not staffed. The chamber will be paid $24,000 a year to operate the information centers.
Mayor Sally Ranzau said it “seemed logical” during the transition to also have the existing center staffed, particularly to answer questions visitors might have. The mayor said she was concerned that visitors might instead come to Town Hall with questions.
Lafferty said chamber could consider finding volunteers for the existing center, but the hope is that people will find their way to the new, larger facility. Council members said they were inclined to let the chamber follow its existing plan and see how it works.
Chamber President Josh Buehler said the organization will aim to have the new center open by May 25, for Memorial Day weekend. In the meantime, the existing center will remain staffed.
The VIC is supported by the town’s lodging tax funds.
In other business:
• The council agreed to a Chamber of Commerce request to waive usage fees at the Winthrop Barn for a job fair on April 24, but declined to waive the fees for the Barn Dance scheduled for Saturday night during the Winthrop ’49er Days celebration.
• Ranzau said construction plans for a pedestrian underpass beneath the Chewuch River bridge, part of Phase I of the planned RiverWalk project, will be discussed at the April 19 council meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. The council will meet from 5-7 p.m. on April 19 to go over plans for upgrading the town’s sewage treatment system.
• The council approved special event applications for the annual Winthrop ’49er Days celebration May 12-14, and for the O’Terry’s Fourth of July Classic softball tournament.
• The council awarded a $159,130 contract to Lloyd Logging Twisp for construction of a pedestrian crossing at Highway 20 near Pardners Mini Market, part of the Susie Stephens recreational trail. Public Works Director Jeff Sarvis said the bid was over the project’s estimated cost, but that the Okanogan Council of Governments provided additional funds to cover the contract amount.
