News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A group of concerned residents in Alpena meet on Monday to brainstorm ideas on how best to promote the local library property tax renewal and encourage people to run as write-in candidates for a commissioner seat. Last week, the Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to begin the process of removing the entirety of the library board over the placement of books they consider objectionable.

ALPENA — Concerned residents in Alpena County, who want to hold members of the Alpena County Board of Commissioners accountable for their vote to replace all of the members of the Alpena County Library Board, held an organizational meeting on Monday.

Those in attendance brainstormed what the most effective methods could be to ensure the proposed property tax renewal for the library passes and oust the commissioners from their seats.

The ideas included recruiting Alpena County residents from all of the districts to run as write-in candidates for commissioner seats during the November election, holding demonstrations, and organizing protests aimed at the commissioners.

People from each of the districts took on responsibilities to help push the group’s initiatives forward.

Monday’s meeting was organized by Molly Stepanski, co-owner of PIF Cider. There was little talk of a recall for the commissioners because recall laws changed after county commissioners’ terms were extended from two years to four years.

The Michigan Secretary of State says a recall effort against a newly elected commissioner can not occur during the first year of a new term or the final year of their term. That means a recall wouldn’t be able to begin until 2026.

The commissioners are under heat because they voted last week to replace the members of the library board for failing to work with residents who expressed concerns about some books in the teen and children’s section that some residents deem pornographic.

Some of the people who wanted the books moved started a campaign urging people to vote against a property tax renewal for the library next week.

The books in question are titled “Let’s Talk About It” which is located in the teen section for people 12-17 years old and “It’s Perfectly Normal” which is in the children’s section dedicated to children ages zero to 11 years old.

The commissioners and some people who opposed the location of the books in the library did not want the books removed from the library, but to have them moved to a section of the library they believe is more appropriate.

The library and its supporters say that violates the First Amendment rights of people who want the books.

Although the books were mentioned on Monday, it was the action of the board that drew the brunt of the ire of supporters of the library and others who were at the meeting who have concerns about the commissioner’s action.

About a dozen people took the microphone and talked about all of the programs and services the library offers that thousands of people in the county utilize and depend on.

There was never any conversation about working with the county or the library to find common ground or trying to reach a compromise.

In the near term, the group of concerned citizens intends to do their part to make sure the millage request passes.

A rally is slated for Saturday which will begin at the Alpena County Courthouse and the group will walk downtown and show off its support outside the library. Anyone who wants to show their support for the library is welcome to attend.

Voters will decide on Aug. 6 whether to renew the library’s 0.7462-mill property tax for operations. That tax costs the owner of a $100,000 house about $37 a year.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.