Yelm Timberland Regional Library

Now that the end of the 2011 First Quarter draws nigh, let’s look at the facts of what we know about the future of the Yelm Timberland Regional Library (TRL), as previously reported here:

1. Timberland will not contribute any further lease payments in the current, private facility after December 31, 2011, per a ten-year contract signed by Yelm officials in 2010 that concludes the end of this year.

2. Mayor Harding has said the city will not remain in the current Fay Fuller Building’s facility size if the city has to pay the entire lease all alone. Harding says he wants TRL to foot part of the bill to buy a new facility, even though that is the city’s responsibility.

3. Mayor Harding has said without TRL participation, the library here will be very small.

4. City Council member John Thompson (Fay Fuller Bldg. owner’s former manager) told the Yelm City Council on the record recently that he attended the Yelm Library Citizens’ Board meeting about the library’s future [where the Fay Fuller proposal was presented]. The details of that meeting were not made public, even though this is a public committee.

5. Mayor Harding told the Yelm Chamber of Commerce in his February, 2011 State of the City address that he proposed buying the 2nd floor of the Fay Fuller Bldg. in a “condo-type” concept, certainly of benefit to owners Margaret Clapp and her sister. They would enjoy having a tenant and condo-style monthly maintenance fees. However, is a 2nd floor library facility the best option when other similar facilities with ground-floor options and better public parking access are available at the same costs? To date, Harding has not presented any written proposal to the public, the local newspaper or Timberland officials, as verified with TRL last Friday.

STAY TUNED AS THIS DRAMA CONTINUES TO DRAG ON OUT INTO THE FUTURE!

AND WITHOUT SHOVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY [OR PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY] ONTO TIMBERLAND?

Read more about Yelm Timberland activities this week.