County library issue hangs in limbo

By MaryHelen Swanson
A library initiative moving on what appeared to be a fast track, apparently is now in limbo as the Chisago County commissioners voted against moving ahead with a schedule toward bonding for $3 million to build new libraries.
That vote, 3-2, with Commissioners Ben Montzka and Lora Walker voting for, and Commissioners Bob Gustafson, Rick Olseen and Mike Robinson against, would have moved the board closer to selling bonds to build a library facility in Wyoming, Lindstrom-Chisago Lakes area and North Branch.
The library initiative, which had been proposed at the June 4 board meeting, involved the county funding a portion of the cost of the three libraries, while the communities themselves would have had to come up with over half a million each for their projects.
That proposal meant a levy from the county and possibly a levy from each municipality.
As the discussion ensued last week about the initiative, which would also have meant the county taking over the operations of the new libraries, questions began arising as to why the rush.
Commissioner Robinson reminded the board that not too long ago people were accusing the board of fast-tracking a new nursing home.
He also noted that Rush City, which is in his district, got its state aid cut by 20 percent, so they would have no money for a library match.
Robinson also reminded the board of the countyís need for a new jail and of roads that need improvements.
He said the board needs to set priorities.
Like his fellow commissioner, Olseen expressed concern for a new jail and a need to look at the effect of lost state aid on the 2004 budget.
He also said the proposed schedule for the library initiative was ìpretty aggressiveî and that he didnít want it to look like the board was railroading the people.
Commissioner Gustafson asked why a $100,000 home was being used to compute tax impact.
He felt it was not an accurate representation of the value of homes in the county.
He questioned the amount of the bond and the city match and adamantly opposed the county taking on the operation and maintenance of the libraries.
He said he was not against libraries, but that the board has to look at whatís facing them, including a jail, nursing home and government building.
Chairman Montzka kept silent through the commissionersí comments, then noted that he was not the one to propose four library buildings (Rush City included).
He also reminded the commissioners that the original proposal schedule was approved 4-1 by the board.
He asked if there had ever, in the past 25 years, been a good time to build libraries.
He acknowledged that the county will lose $1 million in state aid next year and that there will be a levy limit next year, but reminded them that an amount levied for libraries is outside the levy limits.
He pointed to studies from library task forces showing the needs of library space and services.
Chairman Montzka said it was unlike bonding $8 million for roads without studies of need.
Building the libraries is an opportunity to do something to improve the quality of our county, he said.
Gustafson reminded the board that cities and townships are working together on library issues better than ever before and said the county should let them work on it.
ìWe arenít closing libraries,î he said. ìWorking together is a good thing.î
He also noted that the countyís annual allocation for libraries is almost $400,000.
Responding to Montzkaís comment about a better time in the past, Gustafson said there was a better time in the past to do something about libraries - six to eight years ago before all the tax increases.
Gustafson stressed that he didnít want it to seem like any member of the board was against libraries.
Itís a matter of how fast, how far and finding out more about the costs of a jail.
Robinson noted that there were still at least 40 miles of gravel roads in both his district and that of Commissioner Olseen.
Our duty is to provide essential services, he said, repeating that the board has to set priorities.
Commissioner Walker expressed appreciation for the information on the library proposal, and the financial scenarios, and said she would support local fund-raising with some assistance from the county.
She went on to move to continue with the schedule as approved June 4, that would have called for a formal vote to proceed with the bonding by the end of July.
When no one would second her motion, Montzka stepped down turned the meeting over to vice-chairman Robinson so he could offer a second on the motion so the board could discuss it.
Gustafson offered an amendment to remove the word ìassumptionî which, he said, presumes the county would take over ownership of the libraries.
The amendment was OK with Walker, but Montzka would not agree to it. The motion on Walkerís original motion failed.
There was no further action on the library initiative.

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