General Fund versus Building Fund

The Putnam County Library seems to have $500,000.00 that has been bouncing back and forth from the general fund to the building fund. Ms Kelly Ward told her staff it would be returned back to the general fund due to the budget cuts. Was it really returned? No, according to Keith Kahle acting board president. When question about the money at the June board meeting the board members acted at first not to know what was being asked of them. When asked if the money would be better spent saving jobs and buying materials for the current libraries we have now, board members again just stared blankly into the audience. When pushed further Jan Crawfis, board member, boldly stated to members of the public that the board can do whatever they wanted with that money! While this fact is true, wouldn’t it make more sense to let the money in the general fund and save the jobs of very loyal long time employees? Many of whom worked many years and were very close to retirement. The board seems to need to save over $200,000. If the money had been left in the general fund, wouldn't they have more than enough? You took the tax payers money from the general fund and put it into the building fund so you would have almost enough money to build a new library. While I am not against a new library, do you think taking money from the general fund while getting rid of staff and branch hours is the right thing to do? Money by the way those loyal and hard working staff members helped put there. If this board, director and fiscal officer cannot budget within their means why then should the people of Putnam County bail you out?

There were three options given to the board by the Village of Ottawa for going back into the old building. Were these options presented honestly ? We don’t know. This is one of the questions the board has not been able to answer. If going back to the library at the Thomas street location was not going to be an option, why did this board spend $70,000.00 to have plans designed and drawn up for going back into the old building? These plans were abandoned when the board was convinced that the new building had to be built. $70,000.00 was as good as flushed away in the fleecing of Putnam County. That is a misuse of tax payer money. Tell me again why Putnam County should bail you out?

Once upon a time when citizens of surrounding counties asked about the general fund and its purpose Ms Ward stated it was for a rainy day. Well, Miss Director, it is raining! This library needed your help. Instead you are ruining it. First you freeze wages, then cut staff hours, then abolish positions for no reason what so ever. Now you are laying off even more staff and cutting more branch hours. At what point will the branches be closed? After all you have said you can cut jobs and will close branches! Yes Miss Ward you did say that and all of your staff heard you. Are you keeping the branches open as a "presences in the communities" as Jan Crawfis has said just to get your levy? Will you then close the doors saying you cannot possibly afford 7 locations.

There was then a library staff willing to work together, to reduce hours, take cuts across the board, and do whatever was needed to keep the Putnam County Library system alive and well throughout all of Putnam County. Team work became dictatorship with only a ""chosen few"" exempt from harassment. Suddenly the board has started to ask, "How are we going to maintain a new building?" An operating levy in 2010? Certainly you jest...

Beth Korte Leipsic, Ohio