South Bend council approves interim MOU with Raymond to use Raymond Library

The City of South Bend Council on June 9 voted to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Raymond to use and maintain the Raymond Library as an interim, joint library while South Bend researches and adopts a long-term plan for its own library.

Mayor Julie Struck proposed the MOU as a temporary cooperative arrangement. "Mayor Struck proposed the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of South Bend and the City of Raymond, outlining a cooperative effort between the two cities to use and maintain the Raymond Library as a joint library as an interim measure until plans concerning the South Bend Library have been fully researched and adopted," the meeting record states. Councilor Corcoran moved to approve creation of the MOU; the motion carried with a reported vote of Ayes-5, Noes-Ø.

Council members individually expressed support for the interim arrangement during the discussion. The motion language and the council's recorded outcome indicate the council authorized staff to pursue and document the interlocal agreement; the record does not specify the MOU's terms, timeline, funding responsibilities or a date for final adoption of South Bend's library plan.

The council will take further steps as necessary once the city's research and planning process for the South Bend library is completed.