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Fate of library in limbo — again



Area elected leaders still face a number of funding challenges regarding the Malheur County Library. Funding for the facility runs out July 1.
ONTARIO - Current funding for the Malheur County Library from the city of Ontario and the county runs out July 1, but library officials, optimistic more money will be available, have prepared a budget for the next fiscal year.

Darlyne Johnson, head librarian at the facility, said Ontario officials are searching to find money to operate the facility into the future.

“They are working on budgets now,” Johnson said. “They are working to see what they can do.”

A citywide local option tax proposal is still in limbo, Johnson said. City officials, she said, are unsure whether they will move ahead on a tax plan.

Johnson said she prepared a budget for the city which proposes an operating figure of $162,000 for one year or $324,000 for a biennium. Johnson said she will meet with Malheur County leaders May 8 to discuss funding options.

Two attempts were made in 2006 to establish and fund a countywide library district, which would have operated the three public libraries in Ontario, Nyssa and Vale. However, neither measure received enough votes to pass, even though the primary measure received the majority of “yes” votes.

After receiving almost all of its funding for the 2005 to 2006 fiscal year from the county, Ontario and county officials agreed to fund limited library operations through the end of 2006, pending the outcome of the library district votes.

Following the defeats of those measures, city and county officials agreed to fund the library through June 30 to give Ontario elected and appointed leaders time to make the library a city-operated facility entirely, with a goal of submitting a citywide local option tax measure to voters this year.

The Ontario City Council chose the September election to seek a tax levy because members believed the May election was too soon to get information out. Meanwhile, Johnson has been working to stretch her budget as far as possible.

“We cut staff hours, we cut the hours we’re open,” she said. There are five paid employees at the library, two of them at 35 hours, one at 15 hours and two at five hours, Johnson said, and there are normally about seven volunteers. Ruth Metz, a consultant funded by the Oregon State Library, will be in Malheur County this month to work with officials to consider a number of options to keep the library open.




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Islam is a woman-hating, human-enslaving ideology that should NOT be taught in our public schools. It's obvious the Saudis and the rest of the Muslim fanatics who are trying to take over the world have bought off the State of Oregon. Expect lawsuits.

And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.

Disgusting. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:19 AM:

" The girl was Latasha Rodriguez "

Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:

" May 16, 2008

Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add

'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’


I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.


Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"


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