Be prudent about Calhoun library

During the past six years I have addressed the Ouachita Parish Library Board and met with the Library Director, Robin Toms, on several occasions and also met with her during a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Calhoun. Each meeting over the past several years was productive and the meetings helped to build support for a Calhoun Library.

Recently I read in The News-Star that members of the Library Board and Toms had been threatened and inappropriate remarks had been made to police jury members. All of this occurred during a discussion concerning the need for a library in Calhoun. I believe I can state without fear of contradiction that the great majority of Calhoun citizens would not approve of addressing any of the aforementioned in this manner and I offer apologies to all.

If a library is built in Calhoun because of threats or because jury members were coerced, the library will always be tainted. Likewise, residents who meet en masse during a jury meeting to protest will do further damage.

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury members are not in disfavor of a library in Calhoun but are supportive. However, all citizens of Ouachita Parish expect the jury members to utilize their business acumen to determine if they should approve a library.

Each member needs to know the cost of establishing a library in Calhoun and this would allow the member to determine whether the $3 million in the library escrow account is sufficient for a new library and to cover unexpected emergency repairs to other libraries. We will receive a library in Calhoun, but we expect a prudent decision by all jury members.

Let us build bridges instead of walls with the police jury and the results will be that Calhoun and Ouachita Parish will benefit economically, intellectually and socially.

Terry Finley

Calhoun

Terry Finley is president of the Greater Calhoun Chamber of Commerce.