To the Journal editor:

As a resident of Marquette County, an avid library supporter and an employee of an independent business I am angered and insulted by Marquette Township’s Board’s recent decision to terminate their constituent’s contract for library services.

Thanks to the informative efforts from local agencies and officials most of the residents of our county were on the same page concerning the dark store legislation. We were networking with legislators, informing other communities about this fiscal threat and rallying behind our own public agencies and the businesses that pay their fair share of taxes.

Now Marquette Township has turned the issue back to the library instead of capitalizing on wide-spread grassroots support for all of the agencies and businesses involved. More meetings will be held, money will be spent on legal counsel, and much energy and time will be re-focused on our library. This decision was made at the very time when we need to act collectively and focus our concerns on Lansing.

This coming November there will be library renewal questions on the ballots in Marquette, Sands, Skandia, and West Branch townships

Six out of seven of the trustees on Marquette Township’s Board will have terms that expire at the same time. The majority of Marquette Township residents have been voting on behalf of library services for years.

Their current board has not been honoring this priority. It is my hope that the residents of Marquette Township pay very close attention to their board and its short-sighted actions.

Dianne Patrick

Marquette