Gibson Memorial Library asks county for $25,000
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Gibson Memorial Library asked for an additional $5,000 Monday in their county budget request, meaning they’re asking for a total of $25,000 in county taxpayer funding for fiscal year 2013-14.
“We feel that number is very reasonable,” said Ann Coulter, library board president.
Coulter added Gibson Memorial Library plans to “hit the city up” for an additional $10,000 in their budget request later this month.
Coulter said they would use the additional $5,000 from the county to purchase more print and electronic books. Coulter reported the average cost of a library item is $29. Last year, Gibson Memorial Library spent $24,847 on books, DVDs and CDs.
According to a survey done by Gibson Memorial Library, 50 percent or about 1,596 patrons in the rural population used the library in 2012. The study further shows those rural patrons in Union County checked out more than 9,800 items from the library last year.
The board of supervisors will make a decision on the Gibson Memorial Library request later this year after it reviews other budget issues.
Other county news from Monday’s meeting:
• Sandy Hysell, county auditor, reported Union County is no longer the highest-taxed county in Iowa. Hysell said Lucas County now holds the No. 1 spot. The News Advertiser will have a complete story on this when the official ISAC data is released later this year.
• Mark Ide with the Union County Fair Board gave a budget request presentation to the supervisors Monday, reviewing data from last year’s fair. The county gave $12,000 last year for the Union County Fair. Ide said whatever the county was able to give them this fiscal year, they would take.
• Diane Bowers with Area Agency on Aging made a budget request of just more than $11,000, which is slightly less than last year’s asking.
• Vicki Hodge with Rural Iowa Crisis Center made a budget request of $11,000 — about $7,500 more than last year’s asking. Hodge also explained she is currently in negotiations to merge with the Atlantic crisis center.
Hodge said if the merger occurs Creston would still have a satellite office for patrons.
• Karon Finn urged county supervisors to attended the first legislative coffee in Creston slated 8 a.m. January 26 at the Southern Prairie YMCA multi-purpose room. State Rep. Jack Drake and Sen. Hubert Houser are planning to attend the event.
