FONDULAC DISTRICT LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

April 24, 2006

 

 

            Members of the Fondulac District Library Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, April 24, 2006.  Vice President Herring called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

            On roll call the following members were present:  Mrs. Cole, Mr. Goff, Mrs. Herring, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Lasswell.  Also present were Ms. Falasz-Peterson, Director, Miss McKeever, Assistant Director and Mrs. Geier, Administrative Assistant.  Staff member Betsy Bladel was in attendance to observe for a class.  Neighbors Rev. & Mrs. Stoll and their friend Dick Cridlebaugh also were in attendance.

Mr. Mingus and Mr. Brimberry were absent.

           

            M/S/P (Cole/Lasswell) to accept the minutes of the March meeting of the Board of Trustees.

 

            The library statistical report showed receipts of $2,987.6 for April.  There was an increase in circulation for March.

 

            The bills were presented for payment.

 

            M/S/P (Johnston/Cole) to accept the Treasurer’s Report and payment of bills subject to audit.

 

            Treasurer’s Report:

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                              1,281.36

03/31/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                               1,010.67

03/31/06  Interest 3066700474                                                                                 3.24

04/03/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  22,000.00

04/06/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                  (21,787.29)

04/06/06  Check issued – IDES                                                                       (1,219.35)

04/07/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  439.19

04/17/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  21,000.00

04/20/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                  (21,246.58)

04/20/06  Checks issued – NCPERS Group Life Ins.                                           (52.00)

04/20/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                               1,537.78

04/24/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                  25,000.00

04/24/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                      (26,757.98)

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                              1,209.04

 

 

 

GENERAL FUND SAVINGS

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                              3,498.32

03/31/06  Interest 3619307057                                                                                   .38

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                              3,498.70

 

GENERAL FUND INVESTMENTS

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                          333,922.39

03/24/06  Deposit – Per Capita Grant                                                              25,659.53

03/31/06  Interest 7139120393                                                                          1,486.40

04/03/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (22,000.00)

04/10/06  Deposit – Replacement Taxes                                                          23,666.23

04/17/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (21,000.00)

04/24/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                 (25,000.00)

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                          316,734.55

 

WORKING CASH FUND

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                          262,115.59

03/31/06  Interest 7139120401                                                                             991.48

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                          263,107.07

 

RESERVE FUND

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                       1,295,604.45

03/31/06  Interest 7139120419                                                                          4,900.79

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                       1,300,505.24

 

ENTERPRISE FUND

03/27/06  Balance                                                                                            27,325.44

03/31/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                      200.00

03/31/06  Interest 6900342215                                                                                 5.26

04/07/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                      420.00

04/20/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                      250.00

04/24/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                           (234.46) 

04/24/06  Balance                                                                                            27,966.24

 

            Susan Sullivan made two authorized transfers.  The first on April 3rd was for $22,000, the second on the 17th was for $21,000.  Mrs. Geier made one authorized transfer on April 24th for $25,000.  All transfers were from the Investment Fund to the Checking Account.

 

            Rev. and Mrs. Stoll handed out a letter to the board regarding their concerns about our building project and asked them to read it.  Rev. & Mrs. Stoll stated that they have seen the model of the building project and expressed some concern about the narrowness of their driveway and the fact they will be surrounded by parking lot.  Mrs. Herring indicated that the library is interested in being a good neighbor and that the board would be willing to discuss some options for ensuring the accessibility to their driveway.  The Stolls also asked the board if they would still be interested in purchasing their property.  Mrs. Herring informed the Stolls that the board would be interested in paying a fair market value for the property if they should decide to sell.  Mrs. Cole stated that it would be more advantageous for the library to purchase the property before we would build a new building.  The Stolls also asked what the board’s plans were if a referendum were to fail.  The board indicated that the library would use such a failure as an opportunity to learn and continue to pursue a referendum until it passed.  Mr. Cridlebaugh stated that he was in attendance as a friend of the Stolls and to make sure they understand their options.  He asked that “if in a sale like this” the library were to purchase the Stoll property, would the library pay re-location assistance for property owners in the case of someone who is “forced” to move from their property.  He asked if the library has that provision in the law as far as acquisitions are concerned.  Mrs. Herring stated that she could not speak to the law, but she would say the board would be open to some kind of negotiations if necessary.  She also stated that the library board is not forcing the Stolls out of their home.  Mr. Lasswell stated that he was on the board when the library first approached the Stolls six years ago about purchasing their property.  He stated at no time did the library have plans to take their home.  This is why the current building project was designed around their property.

 

            Mr. Brimberry arrived at 6:50 p.m.  He suggested that it may be worthwhile to have the property reappraised.  Mrs. Herring stated that it would be the intent of the board to have the Stoll property reappraised to update the value.  She also stated that since this is a new board, they are not bound by what may have been said by previous boards unless there is a written document.  The board authorized Ms. Falasz-Peterson to contact Jim Klopfenstein to have the property at 141 Everett reappraised.

 

            Dwight Roberts & Jinal Shah, the Bradley University MBA students, presented their marketing plan.

 

            Mr. Mingus arrived at 7:20 p.m.

 

            Mr. Mingus took over the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that she and Miss McKeever are working on two LSTA grants.  One is the traditional Weed and Feed grant to update the health and travel sections.  The other grant is an idea to hire a financial planner to teach the board the process of fundraising.  We will not find out about the grants until the Fall.

 

            During board development, Ms. Falasz-Peterson discussed highlights of chapters 6 and 7 of Serving Our Public.  She reported that we are meeting all applicable core standards and supplemental standards. 

 

            Mr. Johnston reported that on May 9 and 10 he will be attending the Public Treasurer’s Investment Symposium in Springfield.

 

            Mrs. Herring reported that the financial committee met on April 5th and discussed the need to hire a financial advisor.  Mrs. Cole asked Ms. Falasz-Peterson if the grant she was writing to fund a financial planner would be timely.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson responded that the grant funding period is October 1, 2006-June 30, 2007, so it would be appropriate.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that at the finance committee meeting it was decided that she would contact Randy Gibson, who is the principal in charge of our project from PSA, and ask him to send us the name of a person who has used their services.  She suggested that the board have a special meeting on Monday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m., and invite Mr. Gibson to come and give a presentation. 

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson discussed the network update proposal and recommendation.  This project comes from the past few months of working with Theresa Sloan and Nick Hulva, things that have happened with technology and the marketing plan and survey results.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that Theresa and Nick do not have the training and experience to deploy a network.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson feels that we should hire a consultant to show them the steps of what needs to be done to upgrade the network. In the fall they met with consultants from different companies and felt most comfortable with RK Dixon.  Theresa and Nick liked their hands on approach.  The network upgrade would be very interactive with Theresa and Nick doing some of the work.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson does not want the library to be dependent on their company to fix any problems in the future.  The cost for the initial consultation would be approximately $6,500.  We will however, need to get an updated quote as the one we have is a few months old.  We will also need to buy equipment, such as a server.  The total cost would be approximately $15,000, but once again we will need to get an updated quote.  M/S/P (Herring/Lasswell) to proceed with the network upgrade project.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that we are required yearly to refigure the cost of our non-resident card and approve continuation in the non-resident card program.  She calculated the cost of a card to be $115 per year and recommended the board accept the figure and continue reciprocal borrowing.  M/S/P (Lasswell/Johnston) to approve the fee of $115 for a non-resident card and continue participating in non-resident usage.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson presented floor maps of our building for addition to the disaster plan.  M/S/P (Johnston/Lasswell) to accept the addition of the floor maps to the disaster plan.

 

            Mr. Johnston reported on ALS news.

 

            Mr. Mingus adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.