Salary Raises for Weakley County Library Moves Forward to FWM Committee

Weakley County Library Director Candy McAdams requested an additional $5,000 in funds to put into salaries for this fiscal year.

Finance Director John Liggett stated that there was a very good reason that this wasn’t brought up during the budget meetings previously.

“The reason we didn't is we never got word from DRIS and they were up in the air whether or not they were going to approve that and by the time they did approve it, we were already basically finished with the budget or were far enough in we didn't want to go back. So I advised her to wait until we knew for sure,” Liggett stated.

McAdams will be retiring March 1, 2025 and the library has started to put together a job description and is currently making plans to start taking applications to find a replacement.

“In order to get somebody who is well-qualified, and we know we will not get somebody with a master's in library design because the job just doesn't pay enough, but we're hoping to get somebody at least with a degree and someone with some library administrative experience. The notice will go out all over the state and whoever applies will be who they'll be interviewing,” McAdams stated.

McAdams wanting the extra $5,000 in order to get the director's salary up to par to bring in potential candidates that are qualified, able to work with county commissioners and carry on the idea that Governor Ned McWherter had for the library as a community place.

The anticipated salary for the Director will be $48,521 with $2,000 of that $5,000 going directly towards that amount, and the rest to other library staff employees.

The board agreed to move forward in Finance, Ways and Means with the request. The FWM committee will meet Wednesday, July 17 at 9 a.m. at the Weakley County Courthouse.