Sumpter Board approves forum to discuss library vote

A public forum to discuss the Belleville Area District Library’s ballot proposal in the Nov. 8 General Election will be held at 7 p.m., Oct. 12, in the Sumpter Township board room.
The Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved the forum at its regular meeting Tuesday.
The board also approved letting the library use the DPW office building at 23465 Sumpter Road as a media center if the library millage is passed by voters.
The DPW offices will move to the post office building next door.
Library Board president Sharon Peters said the media center will be the satellite location required by the library agreement. She said it will be filled with computers, WiFi access, and be a pick-up and drop-off location for books, DVDs, CDs and other materials, so local residents don’t have to drive into Belleville for materials.
There will be staff on hand to help with computers. She said the plan was developed with people in Sumpter.
Peters said a survey prepared by Sumpter resident and library board member Joy Cichewicz showed the failed 2014 library proposal was not what the people wanted. Both plans for the main library in Belleville and the satellite location in Sumpter have been cut back.
She said the proposal on the Nov 8 ballot is more costly than what people are now paying for the library, but less than other libraries she named.
Peters said the present library does not have the space or electronic capabilities to service the people of the community. She said they will be reaching out in as many ways as possible to bring information to voters before Nov. 8.