LETTERS: Where did all the money come from?
To the Editor:
When I read the Marion County Record last week, I could not believe what I was reading!
The mayor and the people at the city commission meeting were talking about the library and cemetery board having too much money in their accounts.
First off, I think the mayor should be patting Janet Marler, and all the board members, on the back for a job well done, not slapping them in the face and saying we need control of that money.
If the city is going to control all of that money, are they going to spend it as wisely as the board has in the past by letting it gain interest to increase the account?
If they are going to be in control, then why have a board at all. Who will give the approval to Marler for each book she wants to purchase? Is that also going to be under city control?
The library board has put in many, many hours of fund-raising and other non-pay work at the library. I didn't see any city official at those things with their sleeves rolled up washing dishes or anything else.
If you wanted a financial report from the board, ASK. A printed report is made to the board each and every month. You just happened to realize after seeing the audit report that they had over $30,000 in their accounts. They have just completed one of the most successful fund drives in Marion. Anyone bothering to look at the books would realize they only had a little over $1000 in 1995. The excess is set aside in case of unknown expenses so the city would not have to be asked for money.
That money was not money from the city that they budget for the library to operate on. It is money raised through fines of overdue books and donations to the library — not donations to the city. It is to be used by the board to purchase things that are necessary to the library — not for the library to ask permission from the city to use.
The library is not completed yet, and I am sure there will be little money left when it is.
I don't think you can tell me of any other event in Marion that has brought so many people together, whether it be donation of time or money, to get this project done.
If Marler and the board had not been there to work as hard as they did and do all the things they did, would the city have put up the $150,000? I don't think so.
I think it is very poor timing on the part of the mayor and any or all of the city officials. Let's give some credit to those people who have done such a wonderful job the past years and hopefully continue to function in the capacity that they have.
Gene Winkler
Marion
