Posted September 1, 2003.

Dickson County Trustee Resigns over Funding Dispute

In the midst of a dispute with county commissioners over library funding, the chair of the board of trustees of the Dickson County (Tenn.) Library resigned his post August 19. Bernie Dunham had been outspoken against the county’s decision to reduce the library’s budget by more than $40,000, a move that brought a threat in July from the secretary of state to seize 20,000 books from its collection for breach of a state “maintenance of effort” agreement as well as a lawsuit against the commissioners by a group of library supporters.

In stating the reasons for his resignation, Dunham cited his disagreement over the funding issue and the commission’s recent decision to nominate a candidate for the library board, the Dickson Herald reported August 26.

“This next trustee should be someone they trust to serve their interests,” Dunham wrote, “and who meets their criteria of reporting to the county commission, of helping to eliminate the five-year plan, permitting the county commission to dictate library policy and effectively put an end to all progressive projects as the library is downsized and reengineered, in an effort to redefine Tennessee minimum standards to their own interpretation.”

He also requested that his name be “removed from the signature line” in the state maintenance of effort contracts.

Posted September 1, 2003.