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October 22, 1999
Sibley County tries tostall breakup of libraryMatter isnow in courtBy TONY ZIEBOL Journal Staff Writer Officials in Sibley County just won't give up. Although Nicollet County, Blue Earth County, Mankato, North Mankato and St. Peter have announced withdrawal from the Minnesota Valley Regional Library System, representatives of Sibley County are refusing to let library system disband quietly. On Sibley County's behalf, a restraining order in District Court has prevented efforts to divide up resources among MVRL members. Nicollet County and Mankato were not current in payments to the MVRL fund, which prevents them from withdrawing from the system due to the joint powers agreement, say Sibley County officials. Nicollet County officials disagree, saying the county is current with its payments. If the joint powers agreement remains in effect, Sibley County officials claim there cannot be a termination or division of the system's books and equipment. On Nov. 4, the case will be heard in Sibley County court. Those involved in both sides of the disagreement are being tight-lipped. "It is in litigation, so I don't want to comment," said Nicollet County Administrator Bob Podhradsky. If the injunction prevails, Sibley County officials say most of the MVRL entities could be forced back into the system. Otherwise, the breakup of the MVRL will officially occur on Dec. 31. Delaying the dividing up of MVRL resources has caused problems with some of the libraries. It will be a complicated process and could take up to 10 to 12 months to finalize. The MVRL was created in 1975, and all of its members entered into a revised joint powers agreement in 1998. However, disagreements over money and who was going to have control of the system caused every entity but Sibley County to announce its withdrawal from MVRL. St. Peter has been diligently working the last several months on a plan to have its library go on its own. Mankato and Blue Earth County have agreed to help each other, and the other entities have plans in place, fully expecting the MVRL to dissolve. However, since some of the libraries have more MVRL books and equipment than others, some entities are eagerly waiting for the divvying up of the resources.
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