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Library director and assistant urge commissioners to fund repairs and raise administrative pay
Summary
Library staff told commissioners the building needs air-conditioning repairs and a roof; staff say grant cycles ended and administrative pay has lagged behind minimum wage increases.
Becky Marsh, who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, told the Holmes County commissioners the county library is suffering from high temperatures and deferred maintenance and that administrative staff wages now trail local minimum-wage increases.
Marsh said one of three air-conditioning units is running and the building's rear areas can reach about 82 degrees. She described five dehumidifiers that fill twice daily and said prior grants from the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) supported children's programming: "Three years ago... we were able to put on 11 programs. We averaged about 40 to 50 per program," Marsh said. The following year, the library ran 16 programs with about 60 children each. This year, she said, the library will run only four programs because grant funding was not offered.
Marsh also said she followed the budget board's protocol to request pay increases for administrative staff but that requests have been denied repeatedly. "It's been denied 4 years," she said, describing an administrative-grade conflict where minimum-wage shifts have narrowed pay differences.
Assistant Director Shonda Langford addressed the board later, saying staff feel insulted by the prospect of administrators earning the same as staff doing entry-level work. "I'm assistant director at the library. Y'all fixing to bump everybody to minimum wage making the same I make. So I will be training people to do their job, and they're making the same amount of money as me. It's very much a slap in the face, insulting," Langford said.
Why it matters: Commissioners were informed the library lacks a reliable cooling system, faces a potential roof repair, has lost program funding from prior ELC grants, and is experiencing staff morale and retention issues tied to pay. Library staff asked commissioners to note the problems now during budget preparation.
Several commissioners and county budget staff responded that the issues can be considered in the upcoming budget process. Commissioner discussion referenced options to pursue grants and partner organizations; county staff offered to follow up with Liberty Partners and other potential funding sources.
Ending: Library staff were encouraged to meet with county staff after the meeting to explore grant options and inclusion of repair and compensation needs in the FY26 budget; Angela Dockery, a private landowner attending the meeting, also announced she is establishing a charitable trust and said a portion of future proceeds will be devoted to local needs, including the library.
