The Lyon County Commissioners have not considered, or even discussed, closing the libraries.  The County Manager cannot close the libraries – it is not within his power to do so.  And I don't care what other elected or appointed department heads have stated in regards to the libraries.  They can't close the libraries either.  It’s a non-issue.

However, in this past week’s frenzy of emails, phone calls, letters and personal confrontations, spurred on by the promotion of unfounded rumors and gossip of such, there is an issue the residents and taxpayers of the county should be very concerned about - the integrity of the Lyon County Library System leadership team. (Rumored personal differences between various library staff and county staff, ulterior motives, et al are irrelevant.)

Having been both a participant in and long-time follower of county politics, I have observed a number of rumor based campaigns put upon an uninformed, naive public  by private entities looking to gain an edge for a project or issue.  (The developer-engineered anti ASG campaign comes immediately to mind.) However, I have never, ever witnessed such an irresponsible, rumor based campaign instigated and publicly promoted by a Lyon County Department Head.

I fully agree with Commissioner Hunewill’s call for a public apology from the Library Director.  The Director serves at the discretion of the Library Board of Trustees.  The Trustees should demand the same, and, perhaps, utter one of their own.

Let me give you a little history and a few reasons why I say this.

I was informed by the Director that she sent (emailed) two letters explaining her concerns with the commissioners/County Manager shutting down the library system:

• Friday, February 12 – to the Trustees, staff and key players at the State Library and Archives
• Saturday, February 13 – to Commissioners, Trustees and Branch Managers

Friday (2/12) evening (about 10:00PM) I received my first hint of a library issue via an email inquiry as to whether I had heard of the county closing the library branches.  It was also noted by others that a posting to that effect had come out on Facebook – charging Commissioner Chuck Roberts with being the sole instigator of such blasphemy.

I immediately emailed Commissioner Roberts asking if the rumor was true. (What a novel concept – ask before leaping!)  He responded almost immediately – noting the commissioners had never had such a discussion.

Saturday, February 13 (about 12:20PM), I received an email from the Chair of the Library Trustees expressing concern with the fact the commissioners were going to close the libraries and asking for my support against such an effort.  The letter to the commissioners from the Library Director was attached.  It is evident the Trustee Chair sent a similar message, with the Director’s letter attached, to other non-members of the Board of Trustees, commission, et al.

I immediately emailed the County Manager asking for clarification.  (What a novel concept – asking before leaping!)  Even though it was a Saturday and a 3-day weekend, he responded almost immediately.  His response is in my commentary of February 13.

These letters and follow-up correspondence from the Director included reference to and copies of personal emails between the County Manager and the Library Director – dating between Monday, February 8 and Friday, February 12, concluding with a 4:25PM email from the County Manager to the Library Director.

I can only assume the Director did not send her first letter until after 4:25PM Friday, February 12.  

• She sent this letter without one call, to my knowledge, to a single commissioner. 
• She sent this letter without the approval of her Board of Trustees.

 The second letter was sent at 9:54AM, Saturday, February 13.

• She sent this letter without one call, to my knowledge, to a single commissioner
• She sent this letter without approval of her Board of Trustees.

 As of February 16, the County Manager had not received one call from the Library Director or a member of the Board of Trustees following his last message to the Director. (2/10, 4:25PM) asking for an explanation of his last email. The only communication between the Director and a commissioner that I am aware of occurred hours following the sending of her Saturday letter.

• There is no professionally acceptable excuse for a Department Head to send copies of business related, personal emails to anyone, let alone the general public and the press.
• There is no professionally acceptable excuse for a Department Head to initiate such a negative, baseless campaign against anyone, let alone the governing body of the county, without first making the attempt to personally contact these individuals.
• There is no professionally acceptable excuse for apparently using county facilities, materials and, possibly, employees, to promote this negative, baseless campaign.
• There is no professionally acceptable excuse for any member of the Library Board of Trustees, let alone the Chair, to promote/support such a negative, baseless campaign prior to personally contacting the County Manager and commissioners regarding her concerns.

With her stated concerns regarding the Lyon County Library system, why was the Library Director conspicuously absent from among the many Department Heads attending the commissioners’ agendized budget discussion Thursday (2/18) afternoon?  Perhaps she should peruse the volumes within her reach and check out a book or two regarding proper professional behavior, professional communication skills and professional guides to leadership skills.

I would suggest that apologies might be the Director’s best avenue.  Considering the above, Trustee dismissal of the Director should, perhaps, be under consideration instead.

Think about it.

Nancy Dallas, Editor/Publisher

NewsDesk (Established January 2003)