Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON-Heather Stearns and Joe Huether were recently appointed to the Columbia County Rural Library Board of Trustees (BOT) by the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC).

The County Commissioners had been in negotiation with past-Library Board of Trustees Chair Tanya Patton, and Secretary Karin Spann to fill two recent board vacancies.

Stearns was recommended as a final candidate in February, which they agreed upon. Commissioner Ryan Rundell stated in an open letter to the BOCC at the April 2 meeting, "Heather Stearns is a great choice for the library board. Stearns has library experience and seems willing to listen and consider all points of view before casting her vote. She appears to have genuine heart for the library."

However, appointment of the other recommended candidate, Joe Huether, met with resistance when Commissioners Rundell and Chuck Amerein had agreed that another candidate, Amy Rosenberg, had more fitting qualifications, though they admitted, together with Commissioner Mike Talbott, that all the candidates were good ones.

The question about an agreement to accept Library Board recommendations, made between previous commissioner boards and the library boards, was addressed. The agreement stated that, "Columbia County Commissioners will appoint or re-appoint a Columbia County Rural Library District Board of Trustee based upon the recommendation given by the CCRLD Board of Trustees."

Rundell, in his recent letter, stated, "Any agreement by previous commissioners only to appoint those applicants whom the library board recommends removes any check or balance provided by the commissioners...I believe that the Commissioners must appoint someone who will represent those who do not feel satisfied with the Board of Library trustees."

The Commissioners have decided to write up a new agreement, but also decided to honor the current agreement at this time, and resolved to appoint Huether as recommended by the Library Board. Contributing to this decision was the recent withdrawal of Amy Rosenberg's candidacy. Rosenberg was a preferred choice of both Rundell and Amerein.

-Submitted photo

Joe Huether

During the February interview, Huether brought a selection of books from his personal library, some of which he recommended for reading, including, "The Boys in the Boat" and "Board Essentials: 12 Best Practices of Nonprofit Boards." He has served on multiple board of directors both within and outside of the Dayton community. He has experience with working with budgets, policy making and long-term planning. Huether said of applying as a trustee, "I've been hanging around the library for a long time...it's a natural fit."

Spann replaced Patton as chairperson with a majority vote at the CCRLD Board of Trustees meeting on April 20. June Riley retained her position as Vice-chair, Joe Huether was voted in as Treasurer and Heather Stearns as Secretary, all by unanimous vote. Sarah Reser remains the additional board member. These positions are held for a year.