One-Two Punch from
Library Opponents in Iowa
Opponents of a library bond referendum in Burlington, Iowa, won a decisive victory at the polls October 10 and hammered home their point the next day with a letter calling on city officials to replace the library board and Director Kay Weiss.
The $4.5-million bond issue, which lost almost 2–1, would have covered part of the $11.5-million cost of a new Burlington Public Library; the rest would have come from the Burlington Library Foundation ($5 million) and donations. Voter turnout was 38%, considered high for a special election in this city of 27,500, according to the October 12 Burlington Hawk Eye.
The opponents’ letter, delivered to the city council and the city manager, was signed by 17 people, including one council member. It said that a newly appointed board should adopt as priorities improved parking, Sunday hours, and “orderliness and organization” at the library rather than construction of a bigger building.
A counselor attended a regular meeting of library staff the morning after the election. “We wanted to see if any staff members had a difficult time with the vote and if they needed someone to talk to,” said board member Joyce Wauters.
Posted October 16, 2000.
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