Commissioners address library security
File photo
A Jackson County commissioner brought up the issue of library security during the commission’s March 4 meeting, citing safety concerns for staff at the Jackson County Library in Sylva.
Of the two issues raised — what appeared to be a handgun found in the men’s bathroom, and people hiding in the library, only to come out after the building has been closed — only one could be confirmed by library staff.
“We had an incident last week, the police were called, somebody found what they thought was a gun in the restroom at the library,” Smith said. “When the deputies got there, and examined it, it was an airsoft gun. It wasn’t operable, but still that brings the question, could it have been a real gun?”
Jackson County Librarian and Fontana Regional Library Director Tracy Fitzmaurice confirmed the event, saying it was an isolated incident that occurred on Feb. 21.
“At the time, we didn’t know if it was an airsoft gun. It looked like a regular handgun,” Fitzmaurice said. “It was not found on the floor in the bathroom but tucked away in the dispenser used for paper toilet seat covers in the men’s room.”
The object turned out not to pose a danger to library staff, but Smith said that the incident raises larger concerns for safety.
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“What’s the danger if it had been a real gun?” Smith said. “I don’t know what kind of signage we have; I’m not saying signage would stop it.”
Then Smith raised a second issue.
“The other issue is the cleaning crew, they clean some while the library’s open, but they clean past the time where the library’s open and they’ve had some instances where people have come out that had been hiding in the library after the library closed,” Smith said. “That presents a danger to the cleaning crew, and I think that opens up the county for lawsuits, especially if they’re our employees.”
Commissioner Jenny Hooper said “it’s suspected that a lot of that is homeless because they are doing hair dye in the sinks. I don’t think it’s easter eggs.”
But Fitzmaurice said that she and her staff have not heard of people “coming out of hiding” after hours at the library.
“It has never been reported to us,” said Fitzmaurice. “We do not have an issue with homeless people staying in the library after hours either. We have a set of procedures for checking the library and the courthouse side of the building that we follow. I am unsure what incident raised this discussion with the commissioners.”
Smith said he wants the county to come up with a plan to make sure that the building is secure, and that the facility is secure when cleaning crews are there by themselves.
County Manager Kevin King said that he would reach out to the Fontana Regional Library to clarify security protocols and speak to the county attorney about the legal side of things.
“I think it was mentioned too that those cleaning crews were kind of hesitant to come forward because they were thinking ramifications, they might be let go if they didn’t want to work for some reason,” Smith said.
Chairman Mark Letson said it was important that all people working for the county felt safe at their workplace.
