Etna Green Town Council President Keith Claassen listens to discussion regarding a proposed contract for library cards during a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

ETNA GREEN — The Etna Green Town Council spent part of its Feb. 11 meeting discussing the possibility of the town providing Bourbon Public Library cards to citizens.

Bourbon Public Library Director Nicholas Treber and Etna Green Church of Christ Pastor Jordan Ickes were both present at the meeting to discuss a proposal for the town to use some of its funds for purchasing library cards.

“We’d like to propose that out of whatever fund that is discretionary or legal and correct for the town of Etna Green to use that we would purchase library cards for town residents,” said Ickes.

After about 28 years, Etna Township ended its partnership with the library.

Etna Township is on the west side of Kosciusko County and includes the town of Etna Green. According to Treber, Etna Township Trustee Rita Anglin cited a lack of money as the reason for not providing library cards to township residents.

Due to this change, Etna Township residents will now have to pay $55 for a library card at Bourbon Public Library. This cost is established by the Department of Local Government and Finance, as well as the Indiana State Library.

“In the history of the library and how the relationship was with Etna Township, there was up to 100 cards to be distributed annually,” said Ickes.

Treber said about 80 cards a year were distributed, with that number being about split between Etna Green town residents and those who reside outside of the town, but in Etna Township.

“My only concern is the needs of the people that are using the money that we’re giving them for cards,” said Town Council Member Jason Hanes. “I’d love to help anybody that can be helped but I also don’t want this to be extended frivolously. I absolutely want to do this. This is something I want to help with, but I also want to make sure that we don’t just jump into this.”

The council voted to table the discussion for its next meeting in order to determine how to approach helping town citizens with potentially getting library cards and to look over the proposed contract with Bourbon Public Library.

In other business, the council discussed the township fire contract. Attorney Karin McGrath, who was at this month’s meeting in place of Town Attorney Jay Rigdon, told council members that the contract may need some adjustments.

“He’s (Rigdon) concerned that the language in that contract is simply not ready,” said McGrath. “The language needs to be binding.”

Etna Green Fire Chief Randall Byrer requested an executive session with the township trustee, town council members and the town attorney regarding the contract sometime before the council’s March meeting.

The council decided to continue the approval of the township fire contract to its next meeting and also approved an executive meeting with Byrer.

Etna Green Town Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.