JCLI gains library keys; board chastises Corriea
From our weekly issue dated December 10, 2008
Josephine County has been without library services since May 17, 2007 -- but that is about to change.
During its Monday, Dec. 8 administrative meeting at the commissioners’ conference room at the Josephine County Courthouse in Grants Pass, the board of commissioners took the final steps toward reopening libraries.
A lease agreement between the county and Josephine Community Libraries Inc. (JCLI) was brought up for consideration. Commission Vice Chairman Dwight Ellis moved to approve the lease, which runs through 2011, and Chairman Dave Toler seconded.
Dale Matthews, who publishes First Friday and heads the nonprofit InterSchool Television, was present, and raised several objections. He said that the $300,000 raised by JCLI has not been audited, and claimed that violated a Memorandum of Understanding between it and the county.
Toler said that the board and the county’s finance department have seen bank statements provided by JCLI. Matthews suggested that an audit be conducted by someone outside of JCLI and the county. Toler responded that such a move would be “highly unusual,” and that Matthews had a “personal vendetta” against JCLI.
Ellis concurred.
“You’re way off base there, Dale,” said Ellis.
Tony Corriea, a former commissioner, chastised the board for allocating $300,000 toward libraries, and said that the money could be spent on patrol deputies. Ellis told Corriea that the board is still trying to make up for the mistakes that the former commissioner made during his stint.
Toler joined in, and pointed out that no significant budget cuts were made while Corriea served on the board.
Commissioner-elect Sandi Cassanelli suggested that the board give JCLI the $75,000 in the library’s trust fund, but not take the remaining $225,000 from the county’s contingencies.
“To me, it does not set a nice precedence for the public,” Cassanelli said.
Toler and Ellis then voted to approve the lease. Commissioner Jim Raffenburg was absent.
Also considered by the board was a $300,000 matching grant for JCLI.
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Toler said that his main concern is that any new books purchased by JCLI stay with the library. However, he noted that the group’s bylaws state that if it dissolves, the county would retain those materials. Matthews said that JCLI could change its bylaws, and that the county would have no recourse.
Toler said state law requires that under such circumstances, nonprofit organizations must give their assets to another nonprofit or government entity. He added that grant agreements are short-term in nature, and that the board can’t impose long-term conditions on JCLI because the county is only providing funding on a one-time basis.
Corriea asked the board how many times library levies had been voted down.
“What is the will of the people right now?” Corriea questioned.
Ellis pointed out that turning library operations to a nonprofit organization takes the burden off the county’s property owners.
“This is the way to go,” Ellis said. “We’re not doing this by taxes.”
Ellis moved to sign the grant agreement, and Toler seconded. That motion passed 2-0, amid enthusiastic applause from the audience.
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