EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series of columns penned by Dorr Township Library Board President Rachel Vote explaining the Aug. 6 request for one mill for the library.

The Dorr Township Library Board and library director strongly believe Dorr is worth a long-term investment.

Over the past 10 years this community has experienced a lot of change and growth. The library has experienced a lot of change during this time as well.

The Library Board has experienced a full turnover in the six elected, volunteer positions in just the last five years. The most current experienced member has been on the board just shy of five years. As an example of this, postcards were recently mailed out to absentee voters to remind them of the upcoming election. Not only were they printed with incorrect information, but also they failed to state that the mailing was paid for by the Dorr Township Library.

We are trying, but definitely learning from our mistakes.

The millage in 2018 was the first time any of the current board members and director had run a millage campaign. When the board decided to bring the first millage to the voters in August 2018, a millage committee was formed. For the most part, the previous millage campaign was a board member funded campaign, which severely limited the reach of the campaign.

The board understands the rejection of the August 2018 millage. There was not a lot of communication from the millage committee on how the funds raised were going to be used or why the library needed an increase.

Since the previous election, the Library Board and director have done extensive research on strategic planning for the library. They have attended workshops, researched the needs of the library over the next 10 years, and analyzed current and future funding needs in depth.

It is apparent that the Dorr Library has been making miracles happen on a shoestring budget while costs of doing business have drastically increased. The current millage campaign is unfunded. The volunteers who support the campaign are able to give their time, which is greatly appreciated.

Asking voters for a renewal of 0.3 mill may have been safer, but the board unanimously decided that the community needs could not continue to be met with that amount of funding. Through the past few months of work, it became glaringly obvious that continuing to fund the library with anything less than one mill would not be sustainable. The board and the director support the decision to pay $6,500 for a special election Aug. 6 and ask voters for approval.

Dorr is growing at a rapid pace and the library needs to continue to grow to meet the needs of the residents. In order for this to happen, a substantial investment needs to be made. The library needs an influx of funding to invest in technology infrastructure, building maintenance, and materials. Investing in all these components needs to happen, and now is the time.

The Dorr Township Library wants to support the community in attracting young families to the area, increasing property values, and being a place where community members can gather to learn and share ideas. We believe investing in this election further demonstrates our belief that without a modern, stable, and updated library, the growth potential of Dorr Township is limited.

If you’re interested in joining the millage campaign, have questions, or would like to contribute funds, please send me an e-mail at DorrLibraryBoard@gmail.com