Practice What You Preach

The Warren County Board of Supervisors appointed five community members to form the Warren County Library Board on December 10, 2024, with no representation from two districts.

Bylaws were generated and adopted by the Warren County Board of Supervisors on February 19th, 2025.

According to Article 10 of the Bylaws, a public meeting shall be held on either the first or second Wednesday of each month. The agenda for the forthcoming meeting must be prepared and made available to the public at least five days prior to the meeting.

Article 11-C mandates that the minutes of each meeting be made available to the public.

Reviewing the Warren County  Government website, I can find no information that meetings were held in June,July, August, or September.

I tried to review the earlier meeting minutes and was denied access.

This Warren County Government site requires that personal information be provided to create an account, including name and email address, for a company named Civic Plus. According to the Warren County IT Department, this was the administration’s decision.

These documents are required by law to be accessible to the public and should be readily available for public access.

I am concerned that this matter may potentially violate my privacy rights and may not be fully aligned with the stipulations of the Freedom of Information Act. How does this requirement align with Warren County’s  Mission Statement of transparency, openness, accountability, and democracy?

These words —transparency, openness, accountability, democracy, and good governance —are often used by public officials to convince the public that there is no hidden agenda.

No action has been taken regarding the library board. WHY?

Where is the government oversight?  Where is the accountability?  Why does this board exist?

Why is the Library Board of such importance that Civic Plus Security protocols are required to view public information?

The WC Board of Supervisors’ majority defunded the library as of July 1^st, 2025.  The tax dollars allocated have been distributed to other departments.  There is no need for the library board.

Unless there is an unknown agenda.

John Jenkins
Warren County, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.

We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on a wide range of topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violates any legal regulations. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors.

We look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.