New Sandpoint Library Under Fire Petition Seeks To Dissolve Library District In Fight Over New Building
A group opposed to building a new library here is taking extreme measures to derail the project.
A band of mostly Clark Fork residents has filed petitions to dismantle the entire East Bonner County Library District. They want to form a district that does not include the city of Sandpoint.
“It’s unfortunate, but the dispute over this building has led to the possibility we could be without any library services at all,” said Library Director James Murray.
The actions of a heavy-handed library board prompted the petitions, said Norma Mikkelson, one of the nearly 110 people who signed on to dissolve the district.
“We would like to preserve the existing library,” Mikkelson said. “The board has not given citizens a chance to speak about whether they want to build a new library.”
Library officials say that is not the case. Residents have quibbled for at least five years over whether to build a new library or remodel the antiquated, crowded downtown facility.
The issue was resolved when voters ousted two members from the library board in favor of two that wanted a more modern library.
“People have voted pretty strongly in favor of change,” said board member Laurel Wagers.
“I really don’t know what these people hope to accomplish by trying to dissolve the district. They aren’t helping solve any problems at all. And if this goes through it’s doubtful there will be a library building to save.”
When a taxing district in Idaho is dismantled, its property and other assets are sold by the county commissioners.
That means residents trying to save the historic building may actually force its sale.
The confusion comes a week before the board plans to purchase land at Cedar and Division streets for a new library.
The drive to dismantle the district is being led by Mary and Glenn McFarland. The couple filed petitions with the county clerk last week. Glenn McFarland served on the library board before voters ousted him.
The petitions said the present board operates the library as a Sandpoint facility instead of a county service. The group wants to dissolve the district so other county libraries can be formed.
“This petition is a chance to put the issue to the public to make a choice,” said Mikkelson. “We are doing what we think it best for the community.”
Wagers said having multiple libraries would cause problems. Services would be duplicated or too expensive to offer at all the facilities. The plan would cost taxpayers more and the book collections would be smaller than the one in a centralized facility.
“I don’t see how service can be improved by fragmenting what we have,” Wagers said. “It’s very confusing to me.”
County Clerk Marie Scott said the petitions only needed 50 valid signatures to start the dissolution process. The county commissioners now will hold two public hearings. The first is May 23 about dissolving the district. The second is May 25 to hear testimony about reforming a district that excludes the city of Sandpoint.
After the hearings, the commissioners have five days to turn down or approve the petitioners’ request. If commissioners agree that one or both petitions have merit, residents will vote on the issue.
An election could cost taxpayers $15,000.
xxxx HEARINGS Bonner County Commissioners will hold public hearings May 23 about dissolving the district and May 25 on excluding Sandpoint.