Library board down to just two members

Two Flathead County Library Board members resigned last week in protest over how the county commissioners did not reappoint a third board member.

Chairman Jerry Hanson and board member Kala Lougheed resigned last week after Anne Moran was not reappointed on July 1.

Hanson and Lougheed said they resigned because they believe the county commissioners ignored the board's recommendations and made appointments without the board's input.

On July 1, the five-position library board had four members - Hanson, Lougheed, Moran and Laura Long. The board's Bigfork seat had been empty for a few months.

In making its recommendations to the county commissioners, the library board recommended Moran be reappointed as the Whitefish representative. No one from the Bigfork area applied for that spot, so the board did not recommend a person for that post, Hanson said.

On July 1, the commissioners voted not to reappoint Moran, and they shifted Hanson from the at-large position to the Whitefish seat. They appointed Jane Lopp to the at-large position and shifted Long from the Columbia Falls seat to the empty Bigfork seat.

Hanson was at the July 1 commissioners meeting and said he was completely surprised.

Hanson contended the commissioners should not have switched him from the at-large position since his term in that spot had not expired and he was not seeking the Whitefish seat. Lougheed had similar protests.

So both resigned last week.

That leaves just Long and Lopp on the five-person board.

On Tuesday, the commissioners advertised for applicants to fill the Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish seats.

Application packets are available by contacting Karen Marr at the library at 758-5821 or at kmarr@flathead.mt.gov.

Letters and applications should be received no later than 5 p.m. Aug. 8. They should be submitted to the Flathead County Commissioners, 800 S. Main St., Kalispell, MT 59901.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com