After more than two years of heated debates, Macon, Jackson and Swain counties have a new agreement for their regional library system.
Last night, Macon County became the last signatory to a new agreement for the Fontana Regional Library System already signed by leaders from Swain and Jackson counties. The new agreement outlines protocols for public comment, policy creation and funding mechanisms.
Almost exactly a year after Macon County Commissioners sent an updated agreement for the regional library system to be reviewed by the other county boards, the agreement made its way back to Franklin.
It was a quiet commission meeting with only three public speakers in total and only two who mentioned the library.
Macon County resident Scott Base spoke about the need to move forward with the neighboring counties.
“We’ve already got Swain County on there. We’ve already got Jackson County on there. All we’ve got to do is put Macon County on there and let’s get this done for the next 10 years,” Base said. “We didn’t get everything that we asked for but I think we got a lot and I think the changes that they made to what we asked for were pretty reasonable. I think we can move ahead with this and get this behind us.”
Matt Holland with Macon County Young Progressive Voters was clear.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Holland said.
When the item came up on the agenda, there was no discussion from commissioners. Commissioner Danny Antoine spoke as the liaison to the Macon County Library to recommend that commissioners sign the new agreement.
“Jackson County has passed it. Swain County has passed it. So there is no discussion on it. I would like to make a motion to enter into the terms of that agreement,” Antoine said.
The new agreement passed unanimously.
Changes in the new agreement
The new agreement sets up a regular mechanism for public comment at all Fontana Regional Library Board meetings.
The new agreement also reinstates public comment with no less than 3 minutes allowed per speaker. The comment period will be limited to 30 minutes. The agreement removed the stipulation by Macon County in Nov. 2023 that the board chair would have to answer direct questions in the meeting.
The November 2023 draft regional agreement sent by Macon County also updated the mission of the library and how much each county would fund the library. Here’s how the revised agreement amends that:
“Each county will pay the Fontana Regional Library an adequate amount of money necessary for the Fontana Regional Library to carry out its primary mission of providing the public of Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties with excellent service and convenient access to resources for their educational, informational, and recreational needs. being a caretaker of resources. These funds will allow the Fontana Regional Library to pay for library materials and for operating expenses for libraries within that county. Funds from each county will also be used to contribute to joint operations.”
Amendments to the library board’s policies will now be approved by all three county commission boards - as well as the library board. Macon County’s previous revision removed the library as a voting party but that was removed in the approved agreement.
If a participating local government wants to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library System “in accordance with NCAC 07 02I .0308” it must give written notice on or before July 1 to the Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees.
If a government removes itself from the system, its library resources will revert back to the library system while the county-owned buildings and property will remain with the county. There are some exceptions to these rules for fixtures purchased by local Friends of the Library organizations as well as for the Hudson Library in Highlands which owns all of its resources and property as a nonprofit.
Find the full agreement here.
