An ordinance that would allow McMinnville officials to give $204,431 to local nonprofit organizations was met with a final attempt by one alderman to give more to Magness Library.
Under the measure, the library would receive a donation of $65,000. That includes a one-time donation of $17,000 and a regular donation of $48,000.
Alderman Billy Wood made a motion to remove the one-time donation of $17,000 and increase the city’s regular donation of $48,000 to $70,000. This accounts for a total increase of $5,000.
“I think if they decide to push this we are going to lose,” said Wood. “I’m not an attorney or a judge, but this isn’t worth an additional $5,000.”
The library is currently in a financial struggle with McMinnville officials over maintenance of effort (MOE) and this year’s proposed city donation being $65,000, less than the combined $70,000 given last year.
While city officials do not believe the library is covered under the state’s MOE law and the city is not required to match last year’s donation, library officials contend the library does fall under MOE and officials must maintain its donation at the level given the year before.
The two also differ over the donation to the library in 2012:
• Library director Brad Walker says the city’s contribution last year was supposed to be a flat $70,000 donation and he has a letter signed by then-Mayor Norman Rone that set the city’s MOE to the library at $70,000.
• City attorney Tim Pirtle says the ordinance passed in 2012 specifically states the $70,000 was a combined donation — a $48,000 regular donation and a $22,000 a one-time donation — and the city cannot be bound by any letter stating otherwise, even one signed by the mayor.
Wood says he has listened to a copy of the tapes from City Hall in regard to last year’s meetings. He says it’s “obvious” the intent of the committee was to give a lump sum donation of $70,000 and for that donation to be the city’s maintenance of effort for the library.
“Those tapes are being circulated and the library has a copy,” Wood said. “If this goes to court, I don’t think we will win and the taxpayers we represent will pay the price. That is why I’m going to vote no on this.”
This is not Wood’s first effort to increase the city’s donation to the library in this year’s budget to $70,000. Motions can only be voted on by the board after another board member gives a second to the motion. Past attempts by Wood have failed due to lack of a second.
“Before my motion dies due to lack of a second, I just wanted to get it on the record,” said Wood.
Vice Mayor Ben Newman says the measure under consideration is to give the funds already allocated in the budget to nonprofit organizations, not to set the amount given.
“I don’t think we can do that,” Newman said of Wood’s motion. “The budget is already set. This just allows us to give the money to the nonprofits that we did place in the budget. We can’t change the budget with this ordinance.”
Wood added, “If you have four votes, you can do anything you want to do.”
The motion failed due to lack of a second.

Donations:
• Chamber of Commerce – $40,000
• Chamber dues – $5,500
• Citizens for Progress Scholarship Fund – $7,000
• Families in Crisis – $5,000
• Magness Library – $65,000, combined
• Main Street McMinnville – $35,000
• Industrial Development Board – $20,000
• Senior Center – $10,000
• Heritage Alliance – $300
• Rescue Squad – $6,053
• Sister Cities – $5,000
• Upper Cumberland Development District – $2,857
• Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency – $2,721