BOC voices concern over library book

Members of the Board of Commissioners said they want a specific book removed from the Oglethorpe County Library due to inappropriate content during a heated meeting Monday night.  

Paul said the main concern is with “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, but he mentioned the possibility of the BOC taking action on other books in the future. 

“I’m not sitting here trying to act holy,” Paul said. “But, it’s not something that a kid should be able to check out at the library; (it’s) that simple.” 

Commissioner David Clark agreed.

“It’s an error that we have allowed,” he said. “I just do not want to allow any further of that to go on in Oglethorpe County. I want it stopped, and I want it stopped quickly.”

Paul urged the Athens Regional Library System and its Board of Trustees to remove the book or the BOC would take action.

“It’s pornography. And they can take it out on their own, or we’ll get it taken out and pulled out,” Paul said. “And if anyone in here doesn’t agree with that, I’m OK with that. But, I’ll read you what’s in the books at the library.”

Paul said the BOC has given the library half of its $84,000 allocated yearly budget, with the other half due July 1. Paul said the BOC may not pay the library the other half of their budget if the book isn’t removed.

In other news, the commissioners: 

• Heard Lexington’s Faith Campbell voice concerns about the board’s enforcement of the abandoned dog ordinance and rabies ordinance on behalf of the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter. 
• Unanimously approved Terry Griffiths’ request for a rezone from AR (Agriculture Residential) to R1 (Single Family Residential) in order to subdivide for family. 
• Unanimously approved Terry Alan Bridges’ request for a variance to the minimum acreage required for A1 zoned properties in order to subdivide a single family residence. 
• Unanimously approved a moratorium on minor subdivision for a minimum of 90 days. Code Compliance Officer Jeff Sharp didn’t think the county needs the normal six months, but that it can extend the moratorium if 90 days isn’t enough. 
• Unanimously approved the minutes from the March meeting and the monthly financial report. 
• Discussed with Adam Nation, Public Works director, bids for a mini-excavator from Komatsu, Caterpillar, John Deere and others. The BOC unanimously voted on the approval to get an excavator, but will allow Nation time to decide which one to select.
• Followed the recommendation of EMS Director Jason Lewis to unanimously approve the appointment of Josh Robinson to the EMS Advisory Council. The BOC also recognized and congratulated Lewis for being named EMS director of the year for the state. 
• Discussed the recent theft issue at the recreation department and addressed it with expenditures for locks on all doors. They also discussed cameras, but that was tabled as a larger expense. 
• Discussed the issue of business signs around the county, many which aren’t Oglethorpe County businesses.