All right, it is six o'clock on Monday, July 20th.
We'll call the meeting to order roll call.
We missing one, two, three, two.
Yes. All right.
Oh, and Jane is gone, but we have a new member.
Thank you.
Thank you. Welcome.
Happy to be here.
May I just introduce yourself real quick?
Oh, sure.
Brenda Schubert, you want me to process this?
Yep.
Hi, my name is Brenda Schubert.
I have lived in Port Washington for almost 40 years now.
Love the library very much.
Come to library all the time.
Use the library.
And when the mayor asked at one of our meetings
that we came to talk to, you know,
we need people to join boards.
We need people to volunteer in the city.
So I sent him an email.
And from the mayor, six months later, he said, hey,
I want to be in the library board, and on a Sunday,
on a Saturday night, he emails me.
He emailed me tomorrow.
I said, it's Sunday.
And he said, do you want to be in the library?
I said, yeah, I wanted to be in the library before.
So he said, great.
I'm going to recommend that you become in the library board.
So happy to be here.
Love our library.
And hopefully, I can help in any way that I need to do.
Wonderful.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Correspondents, none that I'm aware of, public comments
or appearances.
Do we have anyone here for public comment?
Please.
Love.
Yep.
Yes.
OK.
I was just wondering if we could create a budget where we, like,
give access to, like, a limited free printing to the patrons
of the library.
In Washington, D.C., they give, like, 20 pages.
I know it's obviously a metropolitan area,
so, like, not that much.
But if we could maybe discuss it.
And then I'm not sure if you are ready to,
but if maybe we could start putting, like, meeting minutes
and agendas on Libby.
So that way, for the people who can't have access to coming down
here, maybe don't have the time so they can go back
and have access to it all times on the app.
Those are my comments.
Thank you.
OK.
Thank you.
Oh.
Yeah, I guess they do that first.
Meetings, could you just give your name and address?
Yeah.
My name is Amber Chain in 1446, was second and half,
part Washington, Wisconsin.
Wonderful.
Thank you.
I think that we don't really respond to those.
We can, like, just take an under consideration
and bring it up to the next.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
So then we get two minutes from June, from the June meeting.
Who took proof?
Thank you.
I'll second.
Thank you.
All those in favor?
All right.
Hi.
Invoices for June.
Anyone have any questions?
There's no any major or additional expenses.
Make a motion to approve.
Second.
Thank you.
All those in favor?
Aye.
And a canoe and expense report.
So we are right on schedule.
We spent 49% of the budget, and it's 50%.
I will tell you that it's probably going to be some extra repair
bills with the HVAC.
Probably another 1,500.
We had to have two people come in and from Basset and from HVAC,
which is a company that manages the monitoring software,
monitoring, and we talk.
All the system controls.
And so hopefully, I'm crossing my fingers, because it seems to be working well.
However, both of them recommended that the company that installed the new HVAC, they need
to come back and there's some changes that need to be made.
Working with the city engineer on that?
Yes, Tom.
Thank you.
So does that mean that they think that that should be covered in a warranty or?
Yeah, it has to be covered by them.
Understood.
Okay.
Because it's brand new.
It's I mean, it's been running for two months, three months.
They were able to manipulate the system for about two weeks.
Unfortunately, the system controls guy is working for doing a big project for children's
hospital.
They're redoing their whole system and you can just imagine what that entails.
Sorry.
He's been really great to us and is always able to stop by when we have an issue.
So there's still some, they think there's not a, not enough free on in the, in the systems.
But so far, it's been working most, especially the community rooms been nice and cool.
Children's is much better.
We are no longer locking the doors at night.
We're letting and keeping the doors open so all the air can flow.
And I think that interior interior, did I say, oh, I assume, but I wasn't sure.
Yeah.
We are not keeping the exterior doors open if anyone's watching, just interior doors.
And so it definitely helps with their flow throughout the building.
Okay.
I make a motion to approve the June revenue expense report.
Second.
Thank you.
All those in favor?
Hi.
Directors report staff update.
So we are losing a shelver, a one to college.
And she'll be leaving, I believe it's April or August 14th.
She's very excited.
She's off to Steven's point.
And we wish her well, she's going to do a great.
And then there's been changes with the schedule of the maintenance with Steve.
And I want to be careful with what I say, because I'm not trying to make a big deal
out of it, but HR changed his hours.
And I wasn't in contact with technically the board should be approving all the changes
with the library employee.
However, I am working with them.
But I made it very clear, we need those five hours back by fall.
So they're taking him for 25 at the police station?
Yes.
15 for us.
Yes.
And City Hall.
My understanding is the cleaning person for City Hall quit.
So he's been helping clean.
And they have not decided what they're going to do with the new police and fire, the public
safety building.
So I made it very clear.
We have been busy.
We are doing the best we can staff our cleaning up at night, wrapping off tables and that
type of thing.
I made it very clear that we are one of the busiest locations on a regular basis in the
city.
We have to take out the garbage every day.
Since I think all of you are parents, you don't leave dirty diapers for a day or two.
You just don't do that.
So Steve is adjusting to the new schedule.
So I'll just keep you updated.
And the city is really going to have to decide what's the best solution to them.
But we were a public well-used space that requires regular cleaning.
So I probably will have more information next month because they're going to have to
decide to decide to them because the building is I believe still opening up next month.
On September.
Yeah.
There's been delays with phones.
And we're hoping to have the phones in last week, but now there's a delay.
And we got the new phones.
We're not using them yet.
Building update.
We're still waiting to get the booklocker installed.
There's been some delays with Miller Electric to come and get the electricity.
And network connection to the outside so we can get it all going.
Roger has been working with them.
They're extremely busy.
And I don't think we're a priority.
But we're getting to the point now where we may have to switch to a different electrician.
So we can get it done because we keep getting contacted from Bibliotheca.
They want to get this installed.
So just a reminder, it's going to be an outside locker where people will be able to
come and pick up their items at two o'clock in the morning if they'd like to.
And or don't want to come into the library.
And it really, it shouldn't take them that long, but you know, we've paid for it.
So well, the grant is paid for it.
So hopefully we can get this done by the end of the month or at least in August.
So a patron will have to call and obviously have it arranged that it will be in the locker.
Actually, it's all it can be through email or text.
And then it will give them a code.
Did you do it and then open, get their stuff and and on the way they go.
I actually think it's going to be used quite heavily.
Especially in the winter time.
And Tom, will there be a community communication push when it is up and ready to go to let folks know.
Cam, can I ask where it's going to be outside?
So north end.
So the main entrance on the main level upstairs.
So where it says the library and unicorn library, it's going to be right next to the lettering.
It has to go down a little farther because it will make it easier to connect electricity in the network.
So yeah, there's all these different rules we have to follow.
And Roger, we've been working with Roger and he's looked at it as to be 32 inches.
But I think it's going to be well used.
Is there a plan to have light, proper lighting and or camera?
Well, there would already be a camera.
There are actually two cameras that will one on each end that will look down.
Yes, it's like there is plans on adding lighting to the parking lot as well.
I think we're going to just have to kind of wait and see what it all looks like.
But it does come with a light.
But we may need to add a little more.
Other than that, I think the building's been holding up.
I will say that we can definitely tell we need new windows because of the smoke.
You could you could see it because they're not any other windows or some are 60, 50 years old.
But the smoke came.
You could see it the little haze.
I didn't a little got like in my condo.
I could you know, you could feel it.
But it was the worst air quality we've ever that's been recorded.
So and hopefully after tonight, if it rains, it'll all be cleared out.
Let's see.
Yeah.
Uh, library uses statistics, um, they're available for you to look at.
And let me know if you have any questions.
Um, I do.
I noticed, um, you had the people, how many people signed up for summer reading,
how many people have now signed up for summer reading as a because a lot of people like myself
signed up late.
It's really close to 800.
Okay.
That's okay.
I would think the last I attacked was last Thursday and now it's 750.
Okay.
Um, and we have some heavy duty readers in this town.
Yeah.
Man, some kids.
I think they have read other minutes in the first,
Psalm in the first week.
Um, but, uh, no, it's great to see.
And, you know, the programs are going really well too.
So, yeah, just an additional related celebration to see that bump in children's materials in June.
That's significant once school was out.
Uh, study rooms are getting used quite, quite often.
Yes.
Excellent.
We started working out some issues and, you know, the community room.
Um, you know, we're, you know, now that.
We're kind of down a maintenance person, you know, it's going to be critical
that people clean up after themselves.
Um, and so far it's going okay.
Um, but well, the use of the room will really pick up this fall.
Um, and so that's why it's important.
We have someone, um, back to the regular hours.
Okay.
So then we move on to new business.
Um, consideration and possible action election of library board officers.
I'll nominate Justin Ritter as chair.
I'll second.
Thank you.
Do I need to, uh, ask for approval on that?
Or, yeah, all those in favor?
Aye.
All those opposed?
All right.
Uh, whatever.
Oh, vice president, vice president.
We need someone as a vice president.
Entertain nominations.
Can I ask for Stephanie?
I was just going to ask for our current vice president.
Why don't you sneak?
Did you make a great one?
Who is her group?
We don't really have one.
When I'm when I'm not here, someone else just to kind of handles the
learning the meeting.
It's really all you have to do.
I'll second that.
You'll do a great job.
So we have a nomination in a second for Stephanie as the vice president.
All those in favor?
Any opposed?
All right.
Congratulations.
I considered it for myself.
And then what else do we have a?
That's all it is.
Okay.
Yeah, I don't know that we need a secretary if you're willing to keep doing it.
Okay.
And I say we don't have a secretary.
And I know we discovered a few months ago that Tom is the treasurer.
Yep, I mean, it's not a heavy responsibility job.
It's been a while since I've had much to do.
Used to just review checks and things like that under Barb Matera.
So that was a while back.
That's been quite a well.
Yeah, so the city has.
The city has changed that process.
I worked directly by submitting the bills to
finance department and they take care of everything.
It's a much simpler, easier process.
And I do have access to the accounting software.
So I can see, you know, when bills are paid and the current balances.
I wish it was easier to use, in my opinion,
because I'm not a big number accounting.
But I can always call up Mark and he's really quick to send a report.
But yeah, and it's so much easier since they switch accounting software.
So do we not need the treasurer position anymore?
I guess I would have to double check.
I am going to be at a meeting next in August with the state and I can talk to her.
Okay.
Some libraries have all these committees and I don't think we need a committee.
Well, actually, that's my opinion.
It's up to the board.
I'm sorry.
In my experience, we've typically done ad hoc committees
when we need to hire a new director, for example.
So we had a hiring committee and we were looking for to replace and bring on time.
If we have something else that comes up,
I think we were going to do like kind of a building committee
when we were looking at the changes and that there were a couple meetings, I think.
Yeah.
So I don't, yeah, we don't need committees.
Unless we decided to go some new direction and start fundraising and doing things.
That's more the friends anyway, right?
Right.
So.
Well,
well, friends, yes, but the friends have a very limited focus.
So their goal when they raise money is to give it away right away.
Okay.
The current setup, they don't like keeping a lot of money.
They want it to spend it.
So we'll be spending some of it this year.
And so, yeah.
So there is a difference between big fundraising to
add to the foundation funds than the friends.
Which may be something to consider.
So I just want to give you a quick update on the 2027 budget process.
I can't believe it's 2027.
So what I included in the packet is just a breakdown of the different funds we use or
I'm sorry, the different accounts and their number.
A lot of information we don't have yet.
Well, yes, electricity is going up.
We know that gas, water, sewer.
I don't know if we're going to get those significant savings in telephone.
Some kind of bummed about, but I'm still hanging on there.
We don't have to pay all that money to spectrum with the new phone system.
I'll have more information next month, hopefully.
I have asked for us to see if we can turn the head of children to a full-time position.
There will be some added savings with health insurance because there are some
kids who have aged out in the city policy.
So there will be savings and additionally, I also included
the appropriations for next year from non-library residents.
The cost of servicing non-library residents.
We're actually getting an extra $22,000 and I'm hoping the city doesn't just take that away
from the general levy and gives us that increase because we need to start spending some more money
in our electronic resources and unfortunately, the prices are not going down and I'm really
concerned about levy because they were just purchased or drivers purchased by a hedge fund
and the state is really worried too. So they are looking at other vendors,
different possibilities because the price is not going down, it's going to go up.
And we have no idea what the price is going to be.
I think the state may have contracts through one more year.
It's two years, try to say about two years. So we're just in the year one,
so year two it's going to be that following year where hopefully we'll have good news and it won't get
too expensive because we're at the point now where we're getting close.
It's 35, 65, print versus electronic and so we're going to have to look at that really
closely in the next few years. And I think it was kind of a good thing today,
or was it yesterday, the judges kind of put a stop to the time Warner
Paramount merger because if it does go through, they're going to own a lot of content.
And in library land, especially public library land, that is not a good thing because they're
not going to give us deals. And so we want to make sure that we're constantly looking
and the state has been doing a great job of letting us know if there's been any changes.
So are there any questions?
It's maybe a related question to both this conversation and our conversation about the friends.
When we have community requests or other things that are patron facing but could be budgetary
related such as printing, where is the line between what would be something the friends would
potentially consider as spending their money on versus something that the board would consider
in terms of the library budget? It comes down to operational expenses. That's one area that the
friends and the foundation should not use that money for any type of operations. Any extra
services, materials, help with maybe new furniture, that type of thing. But any type of operational
or paying for a staff member, that would be a no-no. Well, they probably wouldn't approve of it
anyways. It's really to make the library better and enhance what we already do.
So we may be asking them to help fund
Hoopla because it's still around 700 bucks a month and that's still limited to
City of Port residents only. Just a reminder, in 2027
the county is going to reimburse at 100% for electronic resources.
So Ozaki is one of the few counties in the state that reimburse at 100%. By law it's only 70%.
It was actually the law does not include
electronic data, digital data. But they agreed, Ozaki County to cover
reimbursements for the beginning in 27. So we have to open up our, we would have to open up the Hoopla
to everyone because then it will be counted and then we will get reimbursed.
Now, just a reminder, the reimbursement of the reason it's gone up so much is because of the
town of Grafton. And so because town of Grafton decided to pull out of working with
the city of Grafton. So we reap those rewards because town of Grafton is really close to port
and a lot of people will come here. And so we get reimbursed,
the county is reimbursing us 100%, which is great. All the other counties, it's still only 70.
So I just did a report for Washington County and they only reimbursed at 70%.
And it is unlikely they will move to 100% in the time future, near future.
Also included in the packet is just a library's copy of the 10 year, the city of
Washington's capital improvement plan. So I just included the libraries.
And this is not done.
I'm going to call a project, but they're still looking at it. You know, the first,
I think go around is next week or it happened.
Yeah, it's at the end of July. Staff should be putting their capital request through to us.
But this was our first crack at putting together a fairly firm 10 year capital
outlay. We've only gone out five years in the past. This is the first time we've kind of been
out, been out this far. So I would like to think this is fairly, fairly accurate that we're not
going to be doing this too much. Obviously, the costs may change and probably go up, of course.
But the whole point here was to get ourselves in a position where we can say how much we'll be
spending in capital in five or 10 years. So I like to think that certainly those windows you see in
2029 would be happening, driveway parking lot, probably similarly, if it doesn't, you know,
I would say it's probably going to be in 29 or 30. Some of that further stuff out, you know,
we haven't really talked too much about that. The boilers, I think, now that we have the study
from PLA, PRA, PLA, PLA, PLA, the architect. PRA, yeah. They did that project a few years ago.
So they provided all that information across Anderson who did the study and all the capital
around the, all the facilities condition assessment in 24. So, you know, we wouldn't have seen the
boiler replacement that's due in 2034 until recently. So I'd like to say this is fairly accurate.
I think we're going to be in a good spot here. So count on those windows in 29.
Well, I've had smarts to include doors because the doors need to be replaced as well because we
are spending a lot of maintenance on them. They're sinking. Is that the NAP instructional time or is
that something that's different that we need to call out here for the fall? I think you have to
call it out with the replace windows. I did send a lot of information from Mark,
and he took out all the doors, which they need to be put back in.
You have a call assessment on that? Do you know? No.
Yep. That was after the exterior doors? Yes. Mr. Dorman, do you have any idea?
Don't know pricing. Yeah. Honestly. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, they get a lot of use and they
say over time. Can someone help me out with what MEP stands for? Mechanical electrical plumbing.
And the ADA component of the doors. Yeah. Yeah. They're reaching end of life. So I did.
It was a no can run like 10 grand apiece. Okay. So we have four doors.
And the only thing that I'm continuing to look at is we got to figure out a way how we can
update the furniture in a more, cover more. I mean, a lot of this stuff is not matching. It
does not match with what we currently have. So I'm just waiting for the budget from the grant
to be all done. And then we'll talk about using some of that money to update some of
the furniture. You know, the wood, those round woods, the tables, all we really could do is find
someone who can replace the top because it's a turquoise green and it really doesn't match with
anything. And that's kind of like just flicking it out and putting a new piece in. Of course,
the cost is the, you know, pick up and delivery. But we're still not there. And, you know,
eventually, you know, we're going to have to update the bathrooms on the main level.
I mean, they're working okay, but they have, I mean, they're 25 years old.
What did the study say for scheduled maintenance for the bathrooms? You know,
I don't think they had any, that was part of phase two. And that's in the report for
across Anderson. So it wasn't a priority, but it was right. Yeah.
I just remember Jason said the really the priorities are the windows just because of the heat loss,
the environment, you know. And I still look for any type of grants for
having solar on the roof. There hasn't been in this round, but hopefully in the next round,
maybe state budget there will be an opportunity. Because MEC1 put solar on their library
and they're seeing quite a bit of cost savings. I mean, it still takes, I think,
depends five years to get back all your investment. But we're in a perfect, really perfect location
to get all that sun. And so, you know, I let Rob know if there's, if there's going to be a grant
or anything, there's just, there's not a lot of grants for that. We're very, very lucky that we
got the the flexible facilities grant, which is wrapping up. Yeah. Hey, Tom, I don't know if this
is the appropriate time to bring that bring this up. But there was talk of us asking for
additional money that additional money became available from that grant. And we were going
we haven't heard back. We did make the application. 54,500. So that would come back to the library's
fund. And then that's part of what to be used to update some furniture, that type of thing.
Okay. I know there was worry that we weren't going to apply it for some reason.
No, there was concern that they were that they were too busy in public works to do it.
But it was, I talked to Roger right away. It was really, it was a one page form, which was shocking.
But we were, you know, remember, we got an additional money already. So,
yeah, maybe we'll be lucky again.
More. Nice. Okay.
So I just want to talk briefly about continuing education. So I turned 60 last week. And my goal
was I was going to retire at 60, but I've delayed it a little bit. And I'm behind in my
continued education hours. And no, the break, the state would not give me a break. So I've
been working on catching up. And I should have all 100 hours by July 31st. I just have to listen
to about 40 hours. And I've been doing that at home and and all that. So I already have all
the forms off filled out. And the hard part is getting the tech hours. But I know I attended a
couple of state tech things. I just got to get the report back. So that's what I did. I apologize.
I did a horrible job of maintaining them. But I thought I was
going to be on my merry way. But I'm not going away. Yeah, can you wait?
But so what would happen if I if I don't meet it by 30 to July 31st,
technically, I will be in this we would be a non-compliant according to say law. And so then
I'd call the state and then they'll set up a plan for me, which I've already signed up for
there's two big programs in August that I'll be attending. So I may get those that will be
the hours and then we'll be done. So I just wanted to let you know that a self reporting
type of thing or do you have to be really diligent in? Well, you have to be minting.
Yes and no. So like if you go to a conference,
you know, it's about 16 hours, a two-day conference, you just have to fill out that you went to the
conference and then you got a list for the year, all the different workshops you have gone to.
So since I thought I'd be retired, I felt I didn't want to like go to AOA and POA and charge all
this money that is this thing that was not nice to do. But I should be able to get those hours
hopefully by the end of the month. I appreciate your diligence. Thank you.
But thank you for letting us know that what, you know, possible issue could be.
They may bring the state police. I'm totally kidding. They will not.
Actually, one of the important thing is they want to change the there's some movement in DC
to change e-rate and we do not want that to happen. So if you go to AOA's website,
they have forms you can fill out. They'll send them to your congressional leader.
So the reasons libraries have been able to really thrive in this technology world is because we
got reduced rate on e-rate. The current head of FCC is not happy with the program. But it has
saved schools, universities, libraries, millions and millions of dollars for broadband access.
We don't want this program. It can change and maybe something better. But
we don't want this to go away because probably for us, it may be like an extra four to five
thousand dollars a year. School districts, it's going to be a lot more. I personally believe there's
going to be so much outcry that it will not pass. But I need to let you know because it could change
things. Okay. Okay. And then the last thing, just a reminder of the trustee training that's going
to be available in August on the state level. They're really good programs. If you want to,
I can send out the link again to everyone, just a reminder. I had a nice review on Thursday about
chapter 45, 43. I apologize. That relates to public library law. It was put on by UW Extension.
They're working on creating more programs to help the people who are involved in local government
better understand the policies and procedures and the law. It was a really good program
and we're doing everything correctly. So that's good. Are there any questions?
I just have one maybe request. Rosalie, would you be able to voice into the room and to those
watching where folks in the community can find our agendas in minutes for past meetings and any
upcoming meetings? Hello. This is Rosalie, the Assistant Library Director. You can find our
current agenda as well as past agendas in the current month's packet on the city's website.
If you go under the department, you go under library and then on the left-hand side,
click library board and then you'll see those different fields pop up in the main part of the
page. And you can always reach out to us at the library or as well as City Hall if you need
assistance with that. I know I don't have to search for it because I get an email from you
every month, but is it possible to add people who may be interested in getting that
link sent to them? You would have to contact City Hall. Okay. The City Clerks office. Okay.
I don't know if you're aware or not. No? Okay. They would need to contact the City Clerks office
because everything is going to be posted on their website.
And they really have actually streamlined the whole process so it's easier for people
to get access to board reports and agendas in minutes.
Okay. And our taped meetings are on YouTube. Yep. They're all saved on YouTube.
I'm not exactly sure how long they save.
It's probably going to be for seven years if I remember correctly.
And then just a quick question. Do we know off the top of our heads what we do charge for copies?
Uh, 25 cents for copies or printing or both? Both. Okay. And color is 50 cents?
60, 60. Okay.
I was getting to a device or something. Yeah.
We're one of the few libraries when it comes to printing that we control it.
You have to come up to the desk and we have to release the print job.
And I'm out for it because it just reduces waste.
If when libraries first started offering the internet,
the number of books of paper we threw away because people then print correctly.
Yeah. So yeah, we're definitely going to continue. We need to continue that because we really do.
We do waste. Okay. Does anybody have anything else?
Okay. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion. Thank you. Second. All those in favor?
Aye. We are adjourned. Thanks everyone. Thank you.
All those in favor?