Residents urge Randolph County to reinstate dissolved library trustees, present 700-signature petition
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Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Randolph County Board of Commissioners to reinstate the county library board of trustees and condemned what they said was politically motivated removal; a petition of more than 700 signatures was delivered to the board.
Susan (Susie) Scott presented a petition she said had been signed by more than 700 people, "Well over 500 of those are in Randolph County," asking the board to reinstate the county library board of trustees after the board dissolved the trustees last month.
Scott told commissioners she has "yet to hear an answer other than they should have voted to restrict access to 1 book" and said the dismissed trustees "served responsibly with integrity and distinction." She said the petition reflects countywide support and warned that removing a properly functioning board "undermines public trust" and sets a precedent for political pressure to override law.
Other public commenters framed the dispute as a First Amendment issue and criticized outside pressure. Rebecca Majerian, a longtime Randolph County resident and library patron, read from a faith-based statement and urged the board to treat library governance as protecting equal access rather than the "disappearing" of books. Christie Overcash, a school librarian, said libraries must represent all residents and that trustees were punished for following established policies that protect patrons' rights.
Charlie White and others questioned the board’s legal authority for removing trustees. White cited statutes and argued the resolution the board passed references a general management statute but not the statute that governs removal of public library trustees, which he said "authorizes removal of a trustee only for cause" and requires written findings. He urged the commissioners to explain the statutory basis for the action or to adopt a resolution reinstating the board.
The public comment period included calls for the board to separate political pressure from legal procedure and for clarity on what facts, if any, justified removal. Chairman Frey thanked speakers for participating and moved on to the meeting agenda. The board did not take a formal vote during the public comment period to reinstate trustees; no formal action on reinstatement was recorded in the meeting minutes.