Letters to the Editor

No trust for Jackson County commissioner

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

To the Editor:

I just finished reading The Smoky Mountain News article about the proposed amendments to the FRL agreement. In the article quotes Todd Bryson: “the [FRL] Board of Trustees, they have more authority than what they realize to make some of these changes that need to be made.” 

Todd has said “changes need to be made” in more than one commissioner meeting. He never said what those changes are. Is he afraid to say? What is the big secret? This behavior is not surprising given the Jackson County commissioners’ propensity for violating sunshine laws. This FRL issue has been done completely behind closed doors.

As always, I don’t trust these commissioners, which makes me feel uneasy about this agreement. I take some solace in knowing that the First Amendment protects libraries from censorship. The community is watching closely and is prepared to fight any attempts at censorship in Jackson County.

Lew Teter
Cullowhee

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