Following a controversial vote at last week’s Jackson County Commissioners meeting, the two library community rooms in Jackson County are now no longer available for reservations to the public.
Commissioners voted 3-1 to adopt the new policies, which restrict community room use at Jackson County Public Library and Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library to library and county government use only. Until this vote, community members frequently rented out the rooms for meetings, weddings, memorial services, performances and more. Chairman Mark Letson provided the only “no” vote to adopt the more restrictive policies, and several community room advocates left the meeting shaking their heads at the decision. Commissioner Todd Bryson was not present for the meeting. With strong community opposition to these new restrictive policies, some advocates say they may take legal action to restore the general public’s access to the space.