Question of conflict in Cedar Rapids library vote answered

The live blog was burning this afternoon (Thursday Feb. 4) as the Cedar Rapids Library Board of Trustees voted on its preferred site for a new library.

That Gazette Communications' downtown block that includes The Gazette and KCRG-TV9 not only was in the mix but was the preferred site by a 5-to-3 informal vote only enhanced the drama that played out live on GazetteOnline.com and kcrg.com

A note: although the informal pick was by a 5-to-3 margin, based on attending board members' preferences, the formal recommendation passed unanimously. The Gazette's initial story, and this blog first time around on Thursday, first reported only the 5-to-3 vote.

Didn't Gazette reporter Adam Belz have a conflict of interest reporting the proceedings? a follower on the live blog asked. Others noted, however, that they thought he did a fair job of relating the facts from the meeting.

The question of Gazette Communications' interest when it reports this story is worth answering again. What you see here will lead the column I write in the Sunday, Feb. 7, Gazette:

Our company CEO, Chuck Peters, has said the city contacted the company about the site and that the company has no need to move. We ran an editorial on Jan. 20 stating that we would take no Opinion Page position on the matter because of the appearance of conflict that would exist with such an opinion. And we've explored all of the sites, notably in a piece last Sunday, Jan. 31, that analyzed each of the properties under consideration.

The only way to avoid all Gazette conflict of interest on this issue would be to refrain from reporting altogether on the matter. But that would not be responsible.

So instead, our stance will continue to be: openness that this building we at Gazette Communications call home is in the mix, be fair about all the sites and simply report what's happening.

Plenty of checks and balances will continue to be in place on how we're reporting this because so many people are engaged in the discussions. Next up, the recommendation is delivered to the City Council on Feb. 10. The council vote -- the one that really matters -- is to be on Feb. 24.