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June 24, 1999
Counties cautious on library issueNicollet, Sibley counties maintain wait-and-see policy on staying in or leaving Minnesota Valley Regional systemBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer As the fate of the Minnesota Valley Regional Library system hangs in the balance, the New Ulm Public Library has become another possible player in the drama, while Nicollet and Sibley County commissioners are maintaining a wait and see attitude. Nicollet County commissioners, during a meeting in St. Peter on Tuesday, discussed the possible signing of a resolution announcing their intent to withdraw from the system, joining North Mankato and Blue Earth County. Following much debate on the issue, commissioners voted to table the issue pending more detailed information on conditions of liability. A special meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 29 to discuss the matter. The issue is not an easy one to solve, Commissioner James Stenson said. "We don't have the same role as others (in the agreement) do," Commissioner Clete Schroepfer said. "We need to determine what services we want." Nicollet County, although a separate unit under the joint powers agreement, has no actual facilities. It depends on bookmobile services and shared resources available through member branches. Nicollet County has been fighting against dissolution of the library system in an attempt to maintain the current services, County Coordinator Robert Podhradsky said. "I see no problem deciding to withdraw if we have other options," Commissioner Judy Hanson said. "If St. Peter and Sibley County want in with us, that's fine." Nicollet County should not rule out all the possibilities and should not limit themselves to New Ulm, because they have the possibility of joining with whomever North Mankato decides to join, Commissioner Jack Kolars said. The New Ulm Library came into the picture within the past few weeks, when Nicollet County officials discussed the possibility of joining forces with New Ulm as one option if it or Sibley County chose to withdraw, New Ulm Library Director Dan Reilly said. "We received some communication from St. Peter and Nicollet County regarding the issue, but we have received nothing in writing so far," he said. "That is the first step. We are open to the idea and wouldn't close the door on anything." The New Ulm Library is an independent branch of the nine-county regional Traverse des Sioux system, which is headquartered in Mankato, meaning each branch receives some aid based on services provided, Reilly said. "We haven't heard anything from Sibley County, but there is always the possibility that we could provide certain shared services and issue library cards to patrons in those areas," he said. Any decision would ultimately come before the library board and the city council, he said. "Users will go where the services are and where they get services they are used to," Nicollet County Commissioner Lavonne Craig said. If Nicollet County withdraws from the joint powers agreement and seeks services elsewhere, residents will be faced with the possibility of reduced services, Kolars said. "It makes sense that Blue Earth County, Mankato and North Mankato form something that will work for them, but there will be no room for Nicollet County," Stenson said. "Why do we need a plan in place before moving ahead with this?" There is a little apprehension, because Nicollet County should withdraw and find their services wherever they can, Kolars said. "I am afraid we will end up facing extra dollars," Stenson said. "We need to protect the dollars we have invested." Nicollet County should stay in the system out of loyalty to those in the county who utilize the shared services, Craig said. "We need to take our time to consider this and withdraw when we have no other option," she said. If St. Peter eventually pulls out of the agreement, that would leave only Sibley County and Nicollet County in league with Mankato, Schroepfer said. "Sibley County has a unique situation," Kolars said. "We need to be able to provide our folks with services when the time comes." In Gaylord, during a Sibley County Commission meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Charles Woehler said that Nicollet County had a reason to be concerned about the issue because the minimum maintenance of effort would go up for the remaining entities. "I have been in contact with Commissioner Hanson regarding their proposal," he said. "There is no way Sibley County will withdraw. That would leave four votes and nothing would keep them from disbanding the joint powers agreement." He added that there is no reason for Sibley County to be worried, because the issue of liability was not that big of an issue in the long run. "We need to look at our options, but a lot of it depends on what Mankato does," Sibley County Attorney David Schauer said. Woehler stated that if withdrawal takes place, the budget of the remaining entities would increase by as much as 10 percent across the board, but there was the possibility of appointing an interim director and locating the headquarters for the new system in St. Peter. "We really should just ride it out," Woehler said. "The whole issue is a control issue." Under the joint powers agreement, there is a library board made up of elected officials from each of the entities and an advisory council. The disagreements developed over who should have the control. "The current joint powers agreement as designed to be long-term and it lasted seven months," Woehler said. "We should not be willing to abandon ship." If the four remaining entities stay in the system, there is no reason to hold any special meetings, because there will be no vote to dissolve and there will be representation from all four entities, he added. "If the entity continues, then the entity is responsible for all expenses, such as unemployment insurance, because employees were hired under the joint powers board," Schauer said. If the Minnesota Valley Regional Library system is dissolved, then Sibley County stands to lose books and money and will be forced to begin the process of recataloging all holdings, Woehler said. "We need to begin the process of developing a strategy for the year 2000 if the four remaining entities stay," he said. If half of the remaining entities withdraw from the system, then Nicollet and St. Peter may leave as well, leaving Sibley County holding the bag, Schauer said. "There has been no official notice from North Mankato, they have only passed a resolution," Sibley County Economic Development Director Steven Renquist said. "There is a certain procedure that needs to be followed under the joint powers agreement. That procedure has not been followed yet." If faced with total dissolution, then a joint agreement with Waseca-LeSueur looked good, based on the numbers, Woehler said.
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