HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (2/14/12) – Here we go again. On Feb. 8, 2012, a Judge axes redistricting plan, map ruled unconstitutional, local lawmakers praise ruling.
Now we have a Madisonville lawmaker that is sponsoring a bill that would authorize counties to create a library district while maintaining control over board membership and tax levies.
What is going on in Frankfort? Is Senator Jerry Rhoads, who was elected by the people of Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Ohio Counties, going to create a library district when the word is library tax?
The only thing I see is a library tax slide in the back door. We did not send Senator Rhoads to Frankfort to cram a library tax down our throats, and we did not elect the membership of the Fiscal Court to cram a library tax down our throats.
This is what I think should be done instead of Lisa Wigley being put on probation. I think the library should have an audit of its’ books going back five years and being accountable and show where the money went and have it put in the news where everyone can see.
The county and the city puts it in the news showing where the money goes. When the library was downtown, it spent $85,000.00 on a building next to the library. From that time until now, there was nothing done to the addition. I go the Fiscal Court meeting , and 4 years in a row the library was given over $100,000.00 of coal severance events tax dollars to repair the third floor. I was at the meeting when the library gave a slideshow, and then asked for $65,000.00.
In Feb. 23, 2010, I sent an open records appeal to the Attorney General Office in Frankfort asking about the library records. I found out the records are currently inaccessible, due to being stored in a building that has been deemed unsafe and therefore could easily be damaged or destroyed, but not a violation of the open records, but raised a question regarding the current records management practices of the agency.
To create a library district (tax) they are saying the library district might qualify the library for more grant funding.
Here is a list of the library revenue and grants. I think these numbers were from 2009/10…
City and County - $523,000.00 X2
State Aid Grant - $41,866.00
Library Tech. Grant - $4,100.00
Live Homework Grant - $2000.00
Fed. Gov. Revenue - $6,100.00
Other Rev. - $$76,131.00
TOTAL - $653,157.00
With this much money, I think an audit should come into play instead of the Director serving a probationary period.
Scott Rogers
Blue Collar Comments
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SurfKY News staff.
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