Library battle continues with latest appointment

By Kevin O’Brien

An effort to stop the reappointment of a Marathon County library board member failed last week, as county supervisors continued the battle over controversial books in the children’s sections of local libraries.

Reid Rayome, vice president of the Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees, was reappointed to a three-year term on an 18-15 vote, following a debate about his role in responding to citizens’ complaints about what many believe are inappropriate books available to children. Rayome just completed a one-year term to fill a vacancy.

Despite a warning from corporation counsel Michael Puerner to keep the conversation focused on Rayome’s suitability as a library trustee, several supervisors took the opportunity to revisit the issue of the library board refusing to remove sexually explicit material from the kids’ section.

Supervisor Gary Gisselman, who also serves on the library board, said he’s been “quite honored” to work with Rayome over the past year, and he defended the board’s decisions to keep the challenged books in place.

“Sometimes we have to stand above and seek what is right according to the United States Constitution,” he said, referring to First Amendment protections for library materials.

Supervisor Tony Sherfinski, however, said he received several emails and phone calls in opposition to Rayome’s reappointment. The library issues have been “extraordinarily divisive,” he said, blaming a “very small, very vocal, very militant minority” who have “decided that the children’s section of a library is the appropriate place for sexually explicit, pornographic material.”

Sherfinski said concerned citizens are not asking for the books to be banned or burned, but only relocated to the adult sections of the library. He said these citizens were “treated disrespectfully” when they brought their concerns to the library board.

Supervisor Michelle Van Krey, however, commended Rayome for stepping in to chair a packed library board meeting fraught with emotionally charged arguments over challenged books.

“He did a phenomenal job controlling the room, allowing everybody – no matter what their opinion – to speak, and he did it with grace and he followed Roberts Rules (of Order),” she said. “So, I think if we’re looking at his ability as a board member, he’s a fantastic board member and he should be reappointed.”

Van Krey herself lost her seat on the library board after a majority of her fellow supervisors voted against reappointing her last December.

Supervisor John Robinson expressed astonishment that the board was holding up the appointment of someone who has “demonstrated a commitment to this community” and the library system.

“You are not going to get better candidates See COUNTY LIBRARY/ page 16

STATING HIS CASE TO REMAIN ON THE LIBRARY BOARD- Reid Rayome, vice president of the Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees, speaks at Thursday’s Marathon County Board of Supervisors meeting. He was reappointed to a three-year term on an 18-15 vote, following a debate about his role in responding to citizens’ complaints about what many believe are inappropriate books available to children. Rayome just completed a one-year term to fill a vacancy.

STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN O’BRIEN County library

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than him,” he said. “Think long and hard about the message we’re sending to potential applicants for various boards and commissions.”

During public comment, Rayome asked supervisors to reappoint him based on his dedication to the library system, citing his perfect attendance at library board meetings over the past year and letters of recommendations from Assemblyman Pat Snyder (R-Schofield) and Marla Sepnafski, director of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service.

“I now ask for the support of this board, the very same board that unanimously appointed me to the library board just last year,” he said.

In addition to reappointing Rayome, the board also voted 32-1 to appoint Nathan Turajski of Wausau to the library board for a three-year term, with Van Krey voting no. Kathryn Palmer, Kronenwetter, was reappointed to the Wisconsin Valley Library Service Board, on a 26-11 vote.

Sherfinski spoke against Palmer’s reappointment, calling her “very knowledgeable” but expressing concerns that she would side with the American Library Association over local residents when it comes to challenged books.

Other business N The board voted to refer a childcare resolution back to the Education, Extension and Economic Committee for further discussion. Supervisor David Baker, who authored the resolution, said he agreed with the decision after discussing the issue with Kelly Borchardt, executive director of Childcaring, Inc. referral agency.

N The board approved the annual county forest plan after voting down an amendment by supervisor Tim Sondelski, who wanted to remove a provision about negotiating the purchase of additional land for the forest system. He noted that the county already owns over 30,000 acres of forestland and another 3,000 in parks.

County forester Tom Lovlien said negotiating land purchases has been in the plan for 30 years, but the county only does so with willing landowners who own parcels abutting existing forestland, and with local township approval.

Supervisor Jacob Langenhahn, chair of the Environmental Resources Committee, noted that any proposed land purchases still have to come to the full board for approval, and often the purchases keep the land from falling into “a state of slow decay.”

“The county is not a land baron,” he said. “I will say that until I’m blue in the face.”

n County clerk Kim Trueblood reminded supervisors that Dec. 22 is the deadline for turning in declarations of non-candidacy for the April election. If neither nomination papers or a noncandidacy declaration is submitted by then, she will be forced to hold the nomination period open for an additional five days after the Jan. 2 deadline.