Groveland Twp.-Township officials say they will not fund Brandon Township library cards for the more than 950 Brandon school district students residing in Groveland Township.
‘Puchasing these cards may jeopardize the current legal action Brandon School District is starting against the library,? said Robert DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor. ‘The cards are good only until Aug. 31 so we’ll consider other actions in September.?
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 construction of the new facility.
The proposal to fund the cards had come 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
The $6 student cards which expired on March 31, 2004, are valid until Aug. 31, 2004. On Sept. 1, 2004, new cards would then be required for students to check out materials.