Commissioner Robert Wetterau said he would sponsor a resolution to make up the difference of the $40,571 that was cut from the library’s budget in July, thus preventing the state from making good on its threat to reclaim 25% of the library’s collection.
“This has been a very trying time,” Wetterau said in the October 7 Dickson Herald. “There have been a lot of people that have gotten their feelings hurt over this issue. There have been personal attacks made and friendships broken.” The chair of the library board resigned over the issue in August, and library supporters sued the county over the validity of the county mayor’s tie-breaking vote that would have restored the funding. Whether the lawsuit, currently scheduled for an October 21 hearing, will be pursued is now in question.
Wetterau also cautioned that if the county approves the additional funds, the fix is only good for one year. He and Commissioner Virginia Gray are opposed to supporting the state funding requirement next year.
Posted October 13, 2003.