Groveland Twp.-The township board will consider funding Brandon Township library cards for more than 950 Brandon School district students who reside in the township.
At a rate of $6 per library card, Groveland Township officials will discuss paying about $5,500 so students who live in the Groveland Township will be able to check out books. As of April 1, 2004, Brandon students who live in Groveland Township must pay for their own cards following a disagreement in December regarding library fees.
‘We don’t want to see students go without library cards,? said Bob DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor. ‘We’ll provide cards for those that may want one if the board decides to do so.?
The proposal to fund the cards comes after Brandon Township Library officials said in December 2003 that Groveland Township residents contribute only 3 percent (about $25,000) of the library operating revenue. Conversely, Brandon residents pay the majority of the library operations through a millage of about 1.8265. As a result, the Brandon Township Library Board requested that Groveland Township residents agree to a new yearly contract of $190,686 to cover about 2,340 library cards. The Groveland Township Board of Trustees turned down the request and as of April 1, 2004 library services were terminated.
In February, Brandon School officials were notified they would be charged $6 per library card for each Groveland Township student who attends Brandon School District. School officials balked at the charge and maintain the library has chosen to put kids in the middle of the fee disagreement with Groveland Township.
In a closed session meeting in February, the Brandon School Board approved legal action against the Brandon Township Library
‘We appreciate what the township is doing, however we’re still pursuing the issue,? said Bart Jenniches, Brandon School District superintendent.
‘We’ve been in contact with the school attorney and will continue to address the situation. We don’t believe Groveland Township should have to fund the cards. It’s a violation of the contract for the library to charge Brandon Students the fee.?
The dispute surrounds a 1999 contract between Brandon School District and the Brandon Township Library and the interpretation of the Student Patron Fee Agreement. The same contract transferred Brandon School District property for $1 to Brandon Township Library prior to construct the new facility.
School officals say a meeting between the school attorney and library officials may be scheduled in the near future to rectify the dispute.
According to library officials about 62 Groveland residents have purchased library cards as of April 1, 2004.