251208 Special Meeting LBOT
December 8, 2025 – Special Meeting – Library Board of Trustees
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 6:00 p.m. in the 1909
Randolph County Historic Courthouse Meeting Room, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC.
Chairman Darrell Frye, Vice-Chairman Kenny Kidd, Commissioner David Allen, Commissioner
Hope Haywood, and Commissioner Lester Rivenbark were present. Also present were County
Manager Zeb Holden, Assistant County Manager/Finance Officer Will Massie, Assistant County
Manager William Johnson, County Attorney Ben Morgan, and Clerk to the Board Dana Crisco.
Chaplain Bill Hatfield from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office gave an invocation.
Chairman Frye opened the meeting and stated the purpose of the Public Hearing was to
determine the future of the Public Library Board of Trustees. He opened the hearing. County
Attorney Ben Morgan read aloud the Public Comment Rules of Procedure, as follows:
The Commissioners will hear comments from those wishing to speak on the status of
the Randolph County Public Library Board of Trustees for a period of up to 2 hours.
Each individual speaker will be limited to 3 minutes. Names of those wishing to speak
will be drawn at random from a bowl for a period of up to 2 hours. Following the
public input portion of the meeting, the Commissioners will discuss the issues raised
and take action as they see fit at that time.
Amanda Rivenbark, 2771 Danny Bell Rd., Asheboro frequents the library. She supports a
decision to dissolve the Library Board of Trustees.
Laura Heflin, 123 Hope Valley Dr., Archdale, cares about the libraries. She said a
Commissioner claimed that members were not following the by-laws. She does not agree with
that comment. If term limits and year per terms are a concern, the Board should consider it for all
boards they appoint.
Ron Berbaum, 1029 Pleasant Cross Rd., Franklinville, said regardless of whether a member
is appointed, elected, or employed; an organization must be reviewed for the good of the whole
organization.
Harriet Moulder, 416 Rising Sun Way, Franklinville, does not agree with book banning. She
feels the Library Board of Trustees is being punished. The library offers an opportunity to create
listening and safe spaces.
Steve Grove, 1937 Horse Carriage Ln., Asheboro, is a Library Board of Trustees member. He
stated that collections are balanced by the librarians. The mission of the Library Board of Trustees
is to make unbiased decisions.
Jennifer Swanner, 6000 Westhaven Ln., Trinity, thanked the Library Board of Trustees for
their decisions. She stated that members of that Board need to be unbiased.
Greg Erickson, 612 Graceland Dr., Asheboro, is opposed to book banning. However, he said
the book was not appropriate for children. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure the safety of
children. He is in favor of removing the members of the Library Board of Trustees.
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Judy Saunders, 1402 E. Allred St., Asheboro, stated that library staff is always pleasant and
responsive. She fears that this decision will lead to banning books.
Dr. Charles Egerton, 642 Parkview St., Asheboro, made comments about his concerns that
religious extremism may be at work to dissolve the Library Board of Trustees.
Tonia Nelson, 3585 Nelson Rd., Sophia, is in support of the Library Board of Trustees. The
by-laws state that members of the board be from different areas of the county for equal
representation. All members should not be eliminated at the same time. She said that is violating
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1 Amendment rights.
Nathan Burris, 4362 Black Mountain Rd., Asheboro, is the ethics teacher at Faith Christian
School. The book was not appropriate in the children’s section. He urged the Commissioners to
have the book moved.
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Gary Jones, 1291 Cliffwood Dr., Asheboro, agrees with 1 Amendment rights and is not for
book banning. He stated that the Library Board of Trustees must protect children from content
that could be harmful.
Erik Davis, 997 Foxfire Rd., Lot 1, Asheboro, said this hearing started because of a book. The
Library Board of Trustees did their job. They should not be replaced. The topic of the book is
gender not sexuality.
Christian Vestal, 2803 George York Rd., Randleman, said the Library Board of Trustees
should be replaced. The Commissioners need to take a stand against society.
Rev. Mark Creech, 710 Spring Falls Dr., Raleigh, serves as a lobbyist for Return America.
He commended the Commissioners for removing the Library Board of Trustees. This issue is
about protecting children.
Richard Callahan, 2421 Spencer Rd., Asheboro, said the Commissioners have a responsibility
to protect citizens. When children change their identity, they are confused. He urged for protection
of children.
Jennifer Eagle, 7696 Union Grove Church Rd., Seagrove, said librarians should not make
decisions on books based on their opinions. Marking books is also not appropriate.
Judith West, 339 Gregg St., Archdale, believes the Library Board of Trustees deserves respect.
She does not want people from other places to be a factor in the decisions for Randolph County.
One of the Commissioners has said that funding for the library should be withheld. She does not
agree.
Fleming Bell, 304 Shamrock Rd., Asheboro, is a native of Randolph County and has recently
returned here to live. He retired from the NC School of Government and taught Library Board of
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Trustees members. As a citizen, he is concerned about censorship. He wants church and state to
be separate.
Robert Morrison, 1735 Viewmont Ct., Asheboro, hopes that all agree that the Public Library
should be for everyone. There should be content for all. The Library Board of Trustees has done
their job.
Zack Hughes, 1196 Sheridan Dr., Asheboro, cares about protecting children. The Library
Board of Trustees decision was approved with content of a book that was not age appropriate.
Dillon Green, 858 Woodcrest Dr., Asheboro, said he doesn’t discriminate against people. He
believes that transgender topics should not be available for children.
Dallas Hurley, 1136 Brady St. Ext., Ramseur, is concerned that the Library Board of Trustees
did not allow a compromise. She supports the decision to dissolve the Library Board of Trustees.
Todd Nance, 1995 Parks Crossroads Church Rd., Ramseur, is a pastor. He felt the topic of the
book was grooming children.
Adam Hurley, 1132 McDowell Rd., Asheboro, said all are here to accomplish the same thing;
“morality defined by man. It is immoral for parents to allow children to harm themselves.”
Rev. Dr. Brent Tysinger, 1248 Willow Wood Rd., Asheboro, is a lifelong County resident.
Those that say church and state should be separate should rethink that choice. Christians support
removal of the Library Board of Trustees because they failed children.
Charlie White, 482 Fairfax Ct., Asheboro, said the Library Board of Trustees had a hearing
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and not everybody got their way. Now the Library Board of Trustees is being targeted. Our 1
Amendment rights give everyone the right to read and access information on all topics.
Betty Jo Armfield, 6098 Burgess Farm Dr., Ramseur, thanked the Commissioners for
appointing her to the Library Board of Trustees. She said the Trustees are a bridge between the
public and the library. They are responsible for looking at all sides of an issue and not limit
anyone’s point of view.
Jonathan Burris, 4362 Black Mountain Rd., Asheboro, said Christians are against
transgender. No one is asking to ban books.
Wanda Rivenbark, 1501 Gopher Woods Rd., Asheboro, supports the decision to dissolve the
Library Board of Trustees.
Troy Carter, 639 Crystal Wood Rd., Asheboro, came to the library appeal meeting. He is
opposed to children being exposed to the content of the book. It is harming children.
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Pat Miller, 4194 Millers Mill Rd., Trinity, supports the Library Board of Trustees. The book
was written by an award-winning author and school librarian. The book is focused on identity not
sexuality. She reminded everyone that books are optional to check out.
Becky Mureszewski, 3587 Jennifer View Dr., Asheboro, agrees with dissolving the Library
Board of Trustees. The book is not appropriate for children.
Allen Mashburn, 202 Asbury Church Rd., Seagrove, said he is a taxpayer, pastor, and
counselor. He has counseled people who were confused. Library Board of Trustees should be
dissolved for the safety of the children.
Jonathan Madson, 4221 Beckerdite Rd., Sophia, was given a book by a teacher. It confused
him. He did not think it was appropriate for him.
Susan Scott, 516 W. Kivett St., Asheboro, is in support of the Library Board of Trustees. She
is glad the Library Board of Trustees made a decision not to move the book. The book Call Me
Max may have helped some of her peers when they were younger.
John Campbell, 1342 Ross Harris Rd., Asheboro, said some are afraid of people who don’t fit
in. He said Jesus stood with those that were different. Love thy neighbor. Care for people.
Caleb Stout, 3562 Fox Dr., Asheboro, said that Jesus did not condone sin. Children need to
be protected from harmful material.
Krys Gollihue, 4955 Piney Ridge Church Rd., Seagrove, shared that she is gender non-
conforming. She said others that are gender nonconforming or different deserve representation.
Jon Megerian, 175 E. Salisbury St., Asheboro, said both his mother and daughter are
Librarians. Removing a book is an act of censorship. The Library Board of Trustees followed
their rules.
Chairman Frye closed the Public Hearing. He stated that there is no Commissioner
representative on the Library Board of Trustees. He and the other Commissioners are reviewing
the by-laws and procedures. He said the book from the appeal was exposing children to something
when they were not ready.
On motion of Kidd, seconded by Rivenbark, pursuant to NCGS 153A-77(a) that the Randolph
County Board of Commissioners adopt a Resolution Assuming Direct Control of the Randolph
County Public Library Board of Trustees. The existing Board of Trustees are hereby relieved of
their official capacity and the existing by-laws of the Randolph County Public Library Board of
Trustees are hereby dissolved.
Commissioner Haywood said she could not support the motion. She admitted that the
Commissioners need to look at all the board policies. Her father was a pastor and he always tried
to be firm, fair, and Christlike. He did not believe in making himself look better by making
someone else feel worse. Her personal opinion is not relevant. She suggested looking at the
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applications and making them better. She would prefer the Commissioners give some
consideration for all boards. They should not abolish a board.
Commissioner Rivenbark stated that the Library Board of Trustees followed the policies but
they do not represent what Randolph County citizens believe.
Commissioner Allen said there is some middle ground. This has been a divisive issue. The
Commissioners need to come to a consensus. Removing a board is wrong. The Commissioners
must put the public good ahead of themselves. There are four members of the Board of
Commissioners that have appointed these members on the Library Board of Trustees. It is not
prudent to make changes without having a solution. Government moves slowly for a reason. He
mentioned being told that he been told to vote the “right” way. This is political. It sets a poor
precedence. The Commissioners need to be encouraging the best people to serve. Boards need
continuity and staggered terms to maintain institutional knowledge. This issue has had financial
effects. There has been a lot of time spent on this issue. The Commissioners should review how
all boards are appointed, review the applications and possibly make them more tailored to each
board. By dissolving the Library Board of Trustees, there will be no framework and no expertise.
The members with Library science expertise will be lost. He cannot support the motion.
Vice-Chairman Kidd said the Commissioners must make tough decisions and deal with tough
issues. He has peace about this decision. It is a black and white issue. The Library Board of
Trustees does not represent the values of the community. There have been time and resources
spent on this issue. Saving the souls of children is important. This thought did not enter the minds
of the Library Board of Trustees.
Commissioner Haywood stated the library offers programming and collaboration with both
public and private schools. They offer services for children and adults. The Community
Navigators are there to give people resources that improve their quality of life. The library has
STEM programming. In the resent survey by the library, 751 people felt the library was a safe
place. There should be no defunding of the library.
On motion of Kidd, seconded by Rivenbark, the Board voted 3-2 with Haywood and Allen
opposing pursuant to NCGS 153A-77(a) that the Randolph County Board of Commissioners adopt
a Resolution Assuming Direct Control of the Randolph County Public Library Board of Trustees.
The existing Board of Trustees are hereby relieved of their official capacity and the existing by-
laws of the Randolph County Public Library Board of Trustees are hereby dissolved.
Adjournment
At 8:35 p.m., on motion of Allen, seconded by Haywood, the Board voted 5-0 to adjourn.
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Darrell Frye, Chairman Kenny Kidd
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David Allen Hope Haywood
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Lester Rivenbark Dana Crisco, Clerk to the Board
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