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Residents press Columbia County on library reconsiderations and data‑center growth at public comment
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Summary
Public commenters told commissioners the Columbia County Library System’s reconsideration process failed to follow its collection policy and urged review; other residents criticized county commitments to large data‑center acreage and called for more public engagement and greenway preservation.
Public comment at the Columbia County Board of Commissioners’ April 21 meeting focused on the library reconsideration process and on the county’s handling of large data‑center development.
Karen Parham, speaking from 3421 Hilltop Trail, told the board the Columbia County Library System’s March 31 reconsideration decisions did not follow the system’s collection development policy. She said required written rationales were missing from reconsideration decisions, that the director relied on bullet points developed the night before rather than the policy’s required rationale, and that consultations lacked certified professional librarians. Parham pointed to specific titles she said were misclassified — including a preschool anatomy book shelved in a middle‑grade section and Perks of Being a Wallflower placed in the adult section — and asked the commission to direct staff to enforce the library policy and to verify employees’ certification status because of implications for state funding.
Marlena Bergeron of 2545 Willow Creek Court urged the board to explain a planned aquatic center and criticized a perceived lack of public engagement around large data‑center land purchases. Bergeron said residents were not meaningfully involved before purchase‑sale commitments and urged preservation of trees and greenways, warning that county decisions have long‑term impacts on character and resources.
Several other speakers, including Howard Johnson and Susan Warren, also commented: Johnson praised the commission’s MAT contracts and urged more varied meeting times so residents could attend readings; Warren raised infrastructure concerns tied to data‑center expansion, noting a transformer shortage and its effect on project timelines.
Commissioners did not take immediate action on the library reconsideration requests during the meeting; speakers asked that the commission and appropriate staff review written reports and records of the March 31 library board meeting.
