Another chapter: Area libraries forge a deal
SIKESTON - Residents of south Scott County in the R-6 school district will continue to have library access for at least the next two years.
During a special meeting Thursday, the Riverside Regional Library Board of Directors voted 10-3 to extend their agreement by two years with the Sikeston Public Library. Under this agreement which was originally forged six years ago and was slated to expire Aug. 31, Riverside pays the Sikeston Library $15,000 per year in exchange for access to the Sikeston Library for Scott County residents paying taxes to the Riverside Regional Library District who live in the R-6 school district.
The affected area includes the city of Miner; the Mini Farms, Country Estates, West View, Ridgeview, Holmes and Heckemeyer Acres subdivisions; and rural homes around Sikeston.
Riverside's decision to extend the agreement includes "stipulations that the agreement will be terminated when a Riverside branch is opened in southern Scott County or when the two years is up, whichever comes first," according to Nancy Howland, director of the Riverside Regional Library.
All five of Scott County's representatives on Riverside's 15-member board voted in support of the extension.
"I wanted to make sure that the Scott County members stayed on board and they did," said Dennis Ziegenhorn, Scott County commissioner. "That was a major concern: we have to have our own board members voting for us before anyone else. They really did show some good judgment on doing this - they're getting a bargain. They're getting access to a wonderful facility and there's no way in the world they can get a nicer facility than this for less money."
"We are trying to service the southern Scott County area as we see the needs and we hope this will alleviate the problems causes by not initially renewing the agreement," said Randal Friend, president of the Riverside Regional Library Board. "This should help the patrons there get the library service they're entitled to."
Riverside Library board members are still seriously researching costs for opening a branch in southern Scott County, Howland said. "We are looking for a building to rent," she said.
Howland said Riverside board members decided "that Riverside will immediately begin this process by opening lines of communication with the city of Miner and residents of southern Scott County who live in the Riverside Library service area, through the establishment of an advisory committee made up of representatives of that area, the Scott County library board members, the Riverside Regional Library Board president, the Riverside library director and any other interested parties.
"This advisory committee will be responsible for determining the needs and wants of the residents as far as library service is concerned; locating a site for a library; garnering support from the public by publicizing their goals and progress; soliciting donations of time, materials and money from all interested parties; seeking grants and other help through the Scott County economic development office; and following through with any other needed task until the doors are opened for the public at a Riverside library branch in southern Scott County."
"I'm glad they've resolved the issue - I'm still looking forward to a permanent solution to the problem because I don't want this coming up every two years," said Miner Alderman Justin Medley. "I am happy, but I do know there is some work still to be done to get the problem corrected permanently."
"I think everybody needs to be commended - a lot of people put a lot of work into getting this done, but obviously it's not finished," Ziegenhorn said.
"I'm just proud to see that the constituents in the southern Scott County will be served and be served equally to others in the Riverside Library District," said Joel Evans, county developer for Scott County.
Howland said anyone interested in serving on the advisory committee should contact her at P.O. Box 389, Jackson, MO 63755, or contact Janet Tuttle, city clerk of Miner, at 471-8520.