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Williams County agrees in principle to act as fiscal agent for joint Williston–county library
Summary
County staff told commissioners the county will assume fiscal-agent duties for the joint library per a 2023 JPA, taking on bill-paying and recordkeeping to reduce the city's administrative burden; the joint library board still must formally designate the county as treasurer.
County staff updated the Board of County Commissioners on May 19 about the joint library arrangement between Williams County and the City of Williston. Staff said the joint powers agreement (JPA), which the parties updated in 2023, permits either jurisdiction to serve as fiscal agent and that the county has offered to assume those fiscal-agent duties.
Staff explained the proposed change would mean the county would handle paying bills, keeping records and producing reports for the joint library accounts while the library's administration and employees would continue to be city employees under the JPA. "This would be the function of this work wouldn't be any different than what we do for weed control, vector control, water board, park board," staff said, describing it as an efficiency rather than an operational takeover.
Commissioners asked how director and board appointments would be handled. Staff said the county follows its standard application and legal-review process for appointments (publish openings about 60 days ahead, legal review for statutory requirements) and that the commission is the final appointing authority even when a recommending board offers a candidate.
After discussion, commissioners expressed general agreement to move forward with the county serving as fiscal agent, subject to the joint library board formally designating the county as treasurer per the JPA; staff said it would present recommended appointments and further details at a future meeting.
No formal motion to change the JPA was recorded in the transcript; staff will attend the joint library board meeting that evening to confirm operational details.
