BENTON, Tenn. — Any work toward building new libraries in Polk County is on hold while Chancellor Jerri Bryant decides whether the Polk County Commission should be forced to provide money for the project.

“The ball is now in her (Chancellor Bryant’s) court,” said Sally Love, a Cleveland, Tenn., attorney and member of the Friends of the Library.

The group filed a petition earlier this year asking that the commission be required to provide operating expenses for libraries under what they contend is a county commitment.

The Friends of the Library said it had raised about $1 million in cash and pledges to build two full-service libraries. Polk County is the only county in Tennessee without such libraries.

But earlier this year, Polk commissioners reneged on what library supporters said was a commitment to supply $25,000 in operating expenses.

Now, County Executive Mike Stinnett said, the commission is waiting for a decision from the chancellor if the case will go further in court or be dismissed.

The friends group contends that the county created a library system and is required to provide operating funds.

The group presented design, funding and planning information to the commission early this year.

When the commission in March declined to provide funding, library supporters filed a motion in Chancery Court seeking the chancellor’s aid.

The friends group also said it feared the loss of pledges and grants for the project.

Last week, Ms. Love said a Rural Development Agency grant is on hold, with a grace period until December.

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