Columbia County Commissioners rescind agreement with Rural Library District board of trustees

DAYTON—The Columbia County Board of Commissioners (CCBC) has rescinded a nine-year-old agreement with the Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustees, regarding how appointments to the CCRLD board of trustees are made.

In the past, interviews have been conducted by the CCRLD board of trustees, and their recommendations have been brought before the CCBC for tacit approval.

Commissioner Ryan Rundell said he didn’t believe the agreement was adequate in the first place.

He said it removed the commissioners of their obligation to provide checks and balances to the library board, by way of independently approving recommended applications, or by rejecting the library board’s recommendation, and going in a different direction.

“It is the responsibility of the CCBC to appoint board members to various boards, and the agreement removed that responsibility,” Rundell said. “Furthermore, as the library board is an unelected board, the agreement removed the ability of the voters to be represented in the choices of the library board members.”

The CCBC strayed from their meeting agenda on April 6, to talk about the agreement with Garfield County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Newberg in an executive session.

Commissioner Chuck Amerein said Mr. Newberg advised them that the CCBC is responsible for appointing people to the board, rather than simply approving whomever the library board of trustees recommends.

By unanimous vote the commissioners agreed to rescind the agreement with the CCRLD Board of Trustees and negotiate a new agreement at a later date.

They also appointed former library employee Heather Stearns to a five-year term on the board, leaving open an additional position, for which the CCRLD trustees had recommended Joe Huether.

Commissioner Rundell read a letter, dated April 2, in which he talked about the “publicity and strife” created in the community because a group of citizens felt they had been locked out of the conversation, regarding library policies and practices.

He said for the CCBC to do nothing would endorse a long-standing rift in the community. He also said a dissenting voice on the library board would provide checks and balances.

“Nobody is required to be friends, but it is time to set aside personal slights, and be decent to one another, to work together to make the library acceptable, accountable, and transparent,” he said. “One vote does not upend the vote of the board. It does give voice to those who claim to be voiceless.”

Commissioner Rundell went on to say he thought Stearns would be a good candidate for the position since she doesn’t necessarily echo the views of the other trustees.

“She has library experience and seems to be willing to listen before casting her vote. She appears to have genuine heart.”

Rundell said a compromise appointment would be a call to citizens and board members to be civil to each other, and close the divide in the community, which has lasted for over a year.

The CCRLD board of trustees had submitted two names for the CCBC to consider, Heather Stearns and Joe Huether.

Board Trustee Karin Spann, who was at the April 6 meeting, said, “I believe Joe Huether is an open minded individual. He is very good at listening to both sides of the issue. I hope you take a good look at him as the other choice, along with Heather,” she said.

On Monday, April 13, Huether was appointed to a five-year term to fill the other open position on the library board of trustees, by unanimous vote of the CCBC.