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www.newbuffalotimes.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022
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Chikaming Board agrees to reach out to libraries regarding new agreement
embers of the Chikaming Township Board of Trustees approved reaching out to New Buffalo Township Library, Three Oaks Township Library and Bridgman Public Library with a request to revert to their original agreement with the libraries of $30,000 plus penal fines split equally and that New Buffalo and Three Oaks libraries charge Chikaming residents $25 annually at a special meeting Wednesday, March 30. The one-year agreement would take effect July 1. It was approved in a 4-1 vote, with trustee Rich Sullivan voting “nay.” In early 2017, the township began discussions with the three libraries when there were concerns that Chikaming wasn’t paying its fair share in penal fines, which had started to decrease from $30,700 to approximately $27,000. “Through those discussions, we came to an agreement that we’d commit $30,000 out of our general fund to support the three libraires ($10,000 per library), split equally, plus the penal fines,” Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte said. Bunte added that the initial proposal was $90,000 but “we felt we couldn’t afford out of our general fund to commit to $90,000 out of our fund.” A three-year agreement to pay $30,000 plus the penal fines was signed and went into effect in June 2017. In early 2020, due to difficulties with meeting in person, it was agreed that the terms of the current one would continue until it was cancelled or a new one was put in its place. In October 2020, Bunte said New Buffalo Township Library requested an increase in the current agreement by adding a cost-ofliving increase adjustment to $900, which would increase Chikaming’s contribution to $30,900 ($10,300 to each library). Chikaming agreed to pay that amount without changing the agreement, which remained in effect until the following spring. When renegotiation requests surfaced last August, it was initially requested that Chikaming continue to pay the $10,300 per library and evenly split the penal fines; however, New Buffalo Township Library would additionally charge Chikaming users
BY FRANCESCA SAGALA
$25 annually. “Comments from New Buffalo Township Library continued to extol we were not paying our fair share to the libraries in comparison to New Buffalo City and New Buffalo Township residents,” Bunte said, adding that both municipalities, along with Three Oaks and Bridgman, have voter authorized millages for their libraries. In September, the board reviewed what had been submitted to date and requested libraries on possible new agreement with “a couple of different requests,” which were communicated to New Buffalo Township Library the day after the Sept. 9 board meeting (representatives from the libraries were unable to attend due to other commitments). “The requests were that the current agreement would be changed and agreed to by all three libraries,” he said, adding that the $25 fee was not agreed to by Bridgman. Bunte said they were asked to increase their contribution to $31,500 split equally for the next three years, that penal fines remain split equally and that Chikaming residents be charged the $25 fee to use New Buffalo Township Library. Chikaming board members requested that an annual review and report on the number of Chikaming residents currently using New Buffalo Township Library and when they paid the annual fee. In November, Bunte brought a proposal to the board for the township’s contribution to be $30,500 and that they’d split the penal fines for three years. Board members “wanted more discussion,” Bunte said.
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fter board trustees Bill Marske and Rich Sullivan met with library representatives to discuss the proposed agreement the day after the meeting, summations of the discussion were emailed to Chikaming trustees. Based on those summations, recommendations were made to the board to eliminate all agreements or select a library of choice for Chikaming residents. After the December meeting, based on the summations, board members approved making Bridgman Public Library the library
of choice for township residents. A letter was sent to the libraries informing them that the current agreement would expire in June 2022 “per the terms of the agreement.” “The response from New Buffalo Township Library was that on Dec. 15, they are terminating the relationship with Chikaming residents as of Jan. 1, 2022, and began to inform residents of this change,” Bunte said, adding that the terms required a six month out clause. This past winter, per the agreement, all three libraries agreed that Chikaming residents “be accommodated” until June 30 and penal fines be split between all three libraries. “From June 2017 and as of March 30 of this year, we’ve paid $121,800 to the three neighboring libraries out of our general fund - irrespective of the penal fines,” Bunte said. He added that general funds have been declining due to 2020 census numbers and that state revenue sharing, the township’s source of income “to function,” is also declining.
Marske said New Buffalo and Three Oaks libraries said it wasn’t guaranteed
that the $25 would stay the same but could increase. Currently, nonresidents of New Buffalo City and Township are charged an annual $50 fee to use the library. Sullivan said that, to his knowledge, that a letter that was sent to Chikaming residents by the New Buffalo and Three Oaks libraries after the board agreed on making Bridgman the township’s library wasn’t sent to Bridgman Public Library and that it was sent without being “run” by Chikaming board members. He said that Chikaming Township “didn’t break the agreement, New Buffalo and Three Oaks broke it and said they want out of it.” “Right now, they could still be getting the $10,500 plus the additional $6,000-plus in penal fines…In addition to that, they wanted an additional $25 from you,” he said, adding that they didn’t mention the annual fee in the letter. “I resent it when they mischaracterize what happened and don’t tell the public the truth,” he added.
‘PAWS & PINTS’ COMING NEXT MONTH
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he Michiana Humane Society and Friendship Botanic Gardens invite you and your dog to Paws & Pints from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Paws & Pints will feature a dog-walking course through Friendship Botanic Garden’s beautiful 100+ acres of hiking trails and gardens. Tickets include admission to The Gardens, a goody bag with items for you and your pet, a Paws & Pints bandana made by Z’s Dyed Goods, and live music from Nate Miller and the Turn Ups. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from local favorites like Burn ‘Em Brewing, Shady Creek Winery, Social Que BBQ, and Zorn Brew Works. All dogs must be leashed. Proceeds from ticket sales will support Michiana Humane Society and Friendship Botanic Gardens. Sponsorships will fund the care of approximately 1,000 homeless pets that Michiana Humane Society will take in this year. Get outside with your furry friend and support two great organizations at Paws & Pints. To register and for more information, Friendship Botanic Gardens can be reached at 219-878-9885, info@ friendshipbotanicgardens.org or www.friendshipbotanicgardens. org. Michiana Humane Society can be reached at www. michianapets.org, and 219-8724499. — STAFF REPORTS
