HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0173Commissioner Fortner said she felt both libraries were needed, and the Iredell County
Library was in need of improvements. She said that recently, south lredell had received new school
facilities so this area of the county was receiving some taxation benefits. Fortner said she hoped
library improvements could be made in the near future.
Foster asked if the board members could make any commitments as to when the library
improvements would be made.
Johnson said there was already a plan. He said that due to limited resources, the county had
to prioritize the needs. He said the plan made several months ago was to first work on adding court
space. Due to the library being the "big ticket item," it was decided to move this priority back on
the list in an effort to accumulate some money in the fund balance and to increase the appropriation
to the capital reserve fund. By using this method, Johnson said, it was hoped that by the time the
county was ready to improve the library, the funds would be available.
Foster said she understood the plan was to "look" at the library after the DSS project. She
said, however, the board was not saying if the plans were to renovate, relocate, use the Brvant
property, or do something else. She asked if a plan of action could be made now.
Commissioner Stewart said that in reference to welfare reform, that the figures were
misleading. She said the statistics, referred to by Mrs. Foster, were not the "whole pie." Stewart
said the figures also changed from month to month. She said the Work First rolls had decreased,
however, the usage of the staff in other programs had not. Stewart said that DSS had offices in
several locations simply because the North Center Street facility was too small. She said this was
costing the county. Mrs. Stewart said that in the past, there had been problems locating property
near the North Center Street facility for expansion, and recently when an adjacent property came on
the market, the county acquired it.
Commissioner Bowles said that with his board tenure, he couldn't think ofone issue that
had been discussed more than the library condition. He said that many programs were mandated,
and it was becoming increasingly harder to keep all ofthe county's facilities up to a state-of-the-
art condition with technology.
Commissioner Johnson mentioned that Medicaid was a mandated program. He said DSS
this year would spend $53 million in Medicaid payments.
Chairman Tice asked the county manager if allowing the petition to be placed in the library
would be abiding by county policy.
Mashburn said that Mrs. Foster had asked him for permission to put the petition in the
library. He said he could not find any precedent for him to give her that authority. He said he felt
that in a public place, "care should be given as to what type of censorship was placed on petition
requests in the future." Mashburn said, however, the Junior Service League's request did pertain
to a public purpose.
County Attorney Pope said he didn't have any thoughts on the matter. He said the county
could impose reasonable restrictions. He said he didn't think there were any great legal issues.
Fortner asked what the petition would say.
Foster said it basically said, "More space now for the /redell County Library. " She said the
web address was listed and there were places for people to sign. Foster said the petition would
probably be at the public entrance way -- at a table on the left. Mrs. Foster said this would not be
in the staffs way, and they would not have to answer any questions about it.
Asked i f petitions had been placed in other buildings, Mashburn said he was not aware of any
that had been sanctioned.