River Heights to carry one more year of library funding while pressing county for equitable arrangement

River Heights officials told residents on May 20 they will continue the city’s current contribution to the Providence branch of the Cache County Library system for one year while the city and Providence press the county to clarify funding and lease responsibilities.

Mayor Blake Wright and council members who attended a recent joint meeting with Providence and county library staff described a decades-old agreement signed in 1997 that no longer reflects current operations. The old agreement was written when a county bookmobile was in service; the bookmobile has since ceased and the Providence site is now the only physical branch in that area of the county.

Why it matters: Council members said Providence City currently bears the majority of building and operating costs for the physical facility, while River Heights residents — who already pay county taxes that support library services — represent a relatively small share of active accounts at the Providence branch. Council members and board representatives argued the county should contract directly with Providence for the building lease and proportion library operating costs more equitably across the county.

What the council heard: Council members reviewed a packet of usage and financial statistics (posted to the city’s SharePoint). Mayor Wright noted River Heights represents about 10% of active library accounts yet earlier draft allocation proposals would have raised the city’s share of facility costs to roughly 28 percent. The mayor said the original 1997 agreement lists an effective date of July 1, 1997, and an expiration of June 30, 1998, and that no signed written extensions were found.

Public comment and board input: Noel Cooley, who spoke during public comment, asked whether the city’s draft resolution opposing a transportation alignment should reference the city’s general plan; Mayor Wright said the attorney could add such language when the council considers that resolution. Library board representatives who attended the earlier meeting told the council they support the library and offered to help with site plans if Providence and River Heights pursue changes to the facility.

Decision and next steps: The mayor said River Heights will continue its current contribution for one year (the packet listed the city's share as about $4,700) while the county and Providence negotiate a lease between the county and Providence for use of the building. Council members asked the city attorney to review the historical agreement and to confirm that River Heights’ future contributions should be pro rata, aligned to active account use. Council members also said they expect to maintain River Heights’ representation on the library board.

Ending: Councilors said they want a more transparent, county-wide funding approach instead of a city–city cost split for a facility the county library system owns.