Bookmobile supporters crowd city council meeting

SIDNEY -- From the young to the young at heart, supporters of the Sidney Bookmobile were in attendance at the Sidney City Council meeting Tuesday, April 8.

Potter-Dix Superintendent and grades 7-12 principal Chris Arent started the public comments of the meeting telling how important the bookmobile is to the Potter-Dix schools and communities.

"It really is anticipated very favorably in our school system; both at the Potter site and at the Dix site. Dix site is where our elementary school is and our Potter site is where our preschool and middle school are located," Arent said.

He said the bookmobile stops are favorably anticipated at the two locations. 

Staff and residents of Sloan Estates, and Pole Creek Estates Long-Term Care Center also spoke in favor of keeping the bookmobile program. 

Council members stressed their support of the bookmobile. The overlying questions were if the proposed newer vehicle is the best price available, and how to fund it. Vice-Mayor Brandon Bondegard said he doesn't believe any of the council are against the bookmobile. The council is faced with where to find the funds. He asked City Manager David Scott if the communities serviced by the bookmobile have been asked about providing support.

Scott said he didn't talk to the other communities because they are likely "a long ways from their budget cycles." 

Councilman Brett Kerkman said he appreciates the letters support of a bookmobile.

"I think we need to go to a bookmobile. Absolutely. The question is can we go forward and just get this thing done here today, do we wait for some additional funding and additional meetings?" Kerkman said in the April 8 meeting.

Councilman Burke Radcliffe questioned the cost of the newer bookmobile. 

"I certainly think we need a bookmobile. I'm not against the bookmobile. I think if the picture of what we're buying for $175,000 we're getting ripped off. That's where my concern came from; not that it's not needed by the community or wanted by the community," Radcliffe said.

The council approved spending no more than $47,000 from reserves, in addition to the $10,000 from the City's abandoned vehicle sales fund, to purchase a newer bookmobile.