New member added to Iron River Library board

The Iron River Public Library board has added a new member.

The Bayfield County Board appointed Jan Lee on June 25 as the eighth member of the library board. The appointment comes after two members resigned and were replaced — Board President Cassie Fleming and member Karl Morrin, who served as the representative from the School District of Maple. They were replaced by Rich Nemitz and Wendy Furtak.

Not at all county board members wanted the county to appoint a member to the library board.

Rich Nemitz asked the board not to appoint anyone as the library board tries to move forward following the appointment of him and Furtak.

The Iron River Town board appointed them after Chairman David Ciembronowicz said he feels the library board has become unorganized and unable to move things along. It continues to face backlash about books in the library that some residents feel are inappropriate for kids.

In agreement with Nemitz, county board member Marty Milanowski said he doesn’t know what the board would accomplish with the appointment.

“It seems like Iron River is on the right track. They’re not going to close the library,” he said.

Member Madelaine Rekemeyer disagreed, saying what the library board has been doing isn’t working.

“There’s a big lack of accountability. There’s a lack of trust. I would like to have someone from the county board so we have some transparency and the ability to listen,” she said.

It is common practice around the state for counties to appoint members to library boards, said member James Crandall.

Board Chairman Dennis Pocernich nominated Lee to the Iron River Library Board and the measure was approved.

“The library is one of the most used libraries in the state of Wisconsin. I accept your nomination and I appreciate your faith. I hope we can do some good work together and make this flow in a healthy, constructive and courageous way,” Lee said.