HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-2018 minutes
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3939 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, August 1st, 2018
Approved
8/5/2018
The meeting was called to order in the History Room by Chair, Patricia Sowada, at 5:32pm. Members present: Patricia
Sowada, Catherine Vesley, Nancy Hoium, Tricia Conway, and Council Liaison, Robert “Bobby” Williams (Absent: Stephen
Smith). Also in attendance: Renee Dougherty (Library Director), and Nick Olberding (Recording Secretary).
The Minutes of the June 13th, 2018 Board Meeting were approved.
Bill List dated June 13th, 27th, and July 27th, 2018, were reviewed. All were individually moved, seconded, and passed that
the bills be paid.
Accounting Sheet as of August was reviewed, and approved.
• Questions and discussions based on Bills and Accounting:
• Pioneer Press: $717?! Yes, that’s now the going rate for 7-day/week delivery. Star Tribune is similarly priced.
• Utilities: Electric cost looks alright. Eric is still tweaking HVAC to make it as efficient as possible, and sending stats
to architects, who would like to make sure it is performing as planned and hitting their targets.
• Credit Card: City hasn’t figured out a process/vendor, so still no plans to implement credit card processing at the
library in the near future.
Old Business:
• 90th Anniversary Events:
o Jamboree Parade Recap: The float was well-done; everyone had a good time riding and throwing out candy;
the driver was excellent (helped people on/off the truck, and performed an impressive parallel park job). For
the future, Renee would need much more help, and a stronger commitment from volunteers. Join the parade
again next year? No clear answer; emotions seemed mixed…
o History Event (1pm on Sat, Oct 13th): Event presented by Anoka County Historical Society and focusing on the
1920’s and the beginnings of the CHPL. During the event, we will be asking attendees to write down their
favorite memories of the Columbia Heights Library; to be displayed for the Open House in December.
o Open House (Sat, Dec 1st): All day event…featuring the music of Flipside (spanning the 20s, 30s, and 40s)
from 1-2pm, and 2:30-3:30pm; Exhibition of photos from the Photo Contest; Memories from the History
Event; Birthday Cards from kids in the community; a speech/presentation around midday; Cookies, coffee,
and punch provided by the Friends of the Library.
• CHPL Public Arts Advisory Committee: Margo Ashmore has a pretty good handle on the details of the Photo Contest
that the Committee is partnering on. The emphasis will be Heights people (as opposed to pictures of gardens,
scenery, etc. that photo contests are usually inundated with). On October 6th the Committee will narrow down the
entries, and make their selections. Photos will be on display in the Community Room for the Open House, and remain
for around 6 weeks.
• Monument Sign: The LED panel has been ordered and should arrive mid-August. Building of the base (with leftover
stone from the Library construction) will commence after Labor Day, and be finished around mid-October. City is
building the base, and then the sign company will mount the LED portion when complete.
New Business:
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant: The Library will be joining in on the 2nd and 3rd year of the 21st
Century Grant; in collaboration with Kristen Stuenkel and Parks & Recreation. Funding will focus on 5th-8th Graders in
the form of STEM Program Series (urged towards series of programs to keep kids engaged, as opposed to one-off
events on different topics). Also included will be a graphic novel book club once-a-month. 2018-19 programming will
begin at the end of September.
• 2019 Budget: Cuts to the proposed budget include books and e-books, programming, and supplies. Some of the
programming cuts will be supplemented by funds from the 21st Century Grant. Property and Liability Insurance is
going up $5000, which affects all city departments (the city as a whole has had some claims). The Board would like to
see Renee, Cortni, and/or Bri attend a Library Conference, if able. The largest portion of the library budget is
personnel costs; several full and part-time staff members are still going through pay-scale steps/increases.
o The board would like to see the library able to hire another person, because they feel we are stretched thin,
and could use coverage for illness and unforeseen instances. We have underspent budget on personnel for
the last three years, but that was due to employee turnover, and the time it takes to hire a replacement. We
are appropriately staffed for a library of our size.
Items from the Floor:
o Department of Education sent confirmation that they received our yearly statistical submission.
o Columbia Heights Library is receiving a Bike Fix-It Station as part of a partnership between Anoka County
Libraries and Parks, and the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership. The partnership focuses on creating
healthier communities across Minnesota by expanding the opportunities for active living by reducing the
barriers of transportation and increasing access to facilities and opportunities for walking and biking.
o One of the Parking Lot Cameras is dysfunctional and will be replaced.
o Library Director will be on vacation from August 20-31st.
o Catherine Vesley would like to thank the Board for their thoughts & flowers in Donald’s passing.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:28pm by Patricia Sowada, and seconded.
Respectfully submitted,
Nicholas P. Olberding
Recording Secretary, Library Board of Trustees
The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or
employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with
disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights services, programs, and activities.