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Editorial: Settle Grand Blanc library donation squabble out of court

MLive/Flint Journal opinion By MLive/Flint Journal opinion The Flint Journal
on September 08, 2013 at 9:00 AM, updated September 08, 2013 at 9:09 AM

McFarlen LibraryCars are parked outside of the McFarlen Library on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, in Grand Blanc.

The following is an opinion of The Flint Journal Editorial Board.

A lot of other government entities in Genesee County would love the “problem” of how to spend a charitable donation of more than $375,000. And we’re betting they could do so without the threat of wasting taxpayer money and squandering the public’s good will by turning to the courts for help.

Not so the Genesee District Library, the Grand Blanc Township Board of Trustees and the Grand Blanc City Council.

A donation of $375,175 to the McFarlen Library has been sitting in a restricted account since March 2012 while the GDL, the city and township wrangle over how to spend it.

The city and township jointly own the building that houses the library. The GDL manages the operation and owns the materials inside. So all of the parties have a say in the matter.

What have they come up with? In a joint meeting of the City Council and township Board of Trustees last week, the only agreement officials reached was to disagree, and City Attorney Walter Griffin said they the parties might have to ask “the court to intercede and make a decision on the appropriate allocation of the monies…”

All this because the parties involved have different ideas for spending the money? The GDL wants personal property improvements, including seating, study carrels, a scanner, circulation desk and microfiche.

The McFarlen Library Board, which is made of up of people from Grand Blanc and Grand Blanc Township, wants to make building improvements to the children’s library, storage and enlargement of the community room.

The nonsense needs to stop. Sit down and reach a compromise. Flip a coin if need be. This is free money generously donated by the trust of Charles Claffey and Margaret L. Claffey. Spending the money on any of the improvements listed by the parties involved will benefit library patrons.

In the meantime, the bickering is surely proving a turnoff to anyone else considering such a generous donation in the future.
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/flint/index.ssf/2013/09/editorial_settle_grand_blanc_l.html
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