Questioning the benefit to rural residents and the county, Ward County commissioners declined to authorize more discussion regarding consolidation of Ward County Public Library with Minot Public Library. Formal talks had begun last July, although there had been conversations prior to that time.

“I am all for cooperation. I am not sure a merger is what I want to pursue,” Commissioner John Fjeldahl said. “Discussing how we can share things – that’s never a waste of time. But this might be.”

Commissioner John Pietsch said he’s not seeing support for a merger in the rural area. He said a merger is unlikely to gain rural votes should the discussions lead to a plan being placed on the ballot. For a merger to occur, both county and city voters would need to support the idea.

Janet Anderson, Minot Public Library director, and Kerrianne Boetcher, Ward County library administrator, presented study information at Tuesday’s county commission meeting that showed an operational cost savings of about $610,000 over 10 years while increasing bookmobile services and expanding the Minot and Kenmare libraries.

Jill Schramm/MDN The Minot Public Library advertises its events on an electronic display, which is one of the newer additions to the library.

Anderson asked why the commission would be against saving money.

“I am not speaking in favor or against, but I think you need to be able to answer that question to your constituents. If they are able to decrease their taxes and increase their services, what reason is there not to support this?” Anderson said.

Fjeldahl responded the benefits of an expanded library in Minot or bookmobile services within Minot are not items that rural taxpayers should pay for. Pietsch added that services could be improved through library cooperation without the need for a merger.

There also was discussion about whether expansion of the Kenmare library requires a merger and whether Kenmare residents are clamoring for that expansion. Commissioner Jim Rostad, who represents the county on the Kenmare economic development board, said there has been discussion there of a larger library.

Tami Ware of Kenmare, a member of the Ward County Library Board, said expansion of the existing building isn’t the priority.

“I don’t want to lose our Kenmare branch whatsoever. I personally am a little leery of the merger. I worry if we do merge, we will lose service even if we are talking about expansion,” she said.

Commission Chairwoman Shelly Weppler struggled with her decision before voting to end the merger discussion. She urged the libraries to continue discussing ways to work together to improve services, but she voiced concern over closing the library that exists in the county administration building. She noted the location is convenient for downtown residents, Central Campus students, veterans and other county building users.

Keeping two locations open would not be cost effective, the merger committee had determined.

On behalf of the merger committee, the two library directors approached both the Minot City Council and county commission for authorization to develop an implementation plan as the next step in the committee’s investigation. The city council approved the additional discussion Monday. Had the county consented, the discussion would have looked further at finances as well as governance of a merged library.

Commissioner Alan Walter supported continued discussions, saying there are many questions yet to be answered. Rostad also favored more talks.

“I still maintain that having two libraries nine blocks apart when potentially we could expand services and make them better is an excellent example of government inefficiency at its finest,” Rostad said.

Lisa Olson, city council member and merger committee chairwoman, told the commission she had been reluctant about a merger initially because she didn’t see the cost savings. However, the latest information regarding the benefits has persuaded her to continue discussing the merger, she said.

In an email to the merger committee following the meeting, Olson stated the investigation done was valuable.

“Although we were not able to reach a merger, I believe we answered some important questions,” she wrote.