April 2007 Board Minutes

Thorntown Public Library

124 N. Market St.,
Thorntown, IN 46071
Phone: 765-436-7348 Fax 765-436-7011

President Ron Guinn called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Present were Eric Ragsdale, Stephanie Jones, Deanna Brueggert, Ron Guinn, Patty Ramsey, and Teresa Carter. Absent was John Merson. Also present were library director Karen K. Niemeyer and treasurer Barbara A. Darnell.

Reports:
Karen introduced Yvonne Urban-Morgan, the library’s administrative assistant, described Yvonne’s work and commended her excellence. Karen then reported that children’s librarian Shirley A. Hodgen had been nominated for a Western Boone award for inspiring student Natalie Robinson to academic excellence.

Karen introduced Mrs. Hodgen and twelve Youth Council representatives who made a brief presentation that included a request for a Lock-In/Sleep-Over from 6 p.m., Friday, May 4 to 9:00 a. m., Saturday, May 5. Approximately thirteen to twenty youth in grades 4-6 will attend, all members of Youth Council. They plan games, ag reading, karaoke, and movies. They promised they will clean up after the party. Karen had checked with insurance agent Dick Galvin, who cautioned adequate supervision. The Kiwanis will provide a pancake and sausage breakfast. Parents will be required to sign release forms. By consensus the board approved the activity.

The minutes of the March 12, 2007, meeting were reviewed. . Barbara provided a list of additional claims to be added to the March claims register; the additions bring the total amount of warrants for March to $37,233.11. Patty moved approval of the minutes as amended and Deanna seconded; motion carried

Barbara Darnell provided the treasurer’s monthly financial report. Receipts for March total $40,287.55 and disbursements total $58.921.65. The ending cash balance is $122,638.91. With the addition of CD’s that total $393,000.00 and interest of $8341.03, the total of available funds is $524,000. Deanna moved and Patty seconded approval of the financial report and that the register of claims (total $31,597.28) be approved for payment; motion carried.

As of 6:00 p.m. the Fountain Fund had a total of $28,549.00 and 40 tickets for the April 21 gala had been sold.

Karen recommended a change to the December 2006 meeting minutes: The total encumbered does not change, but $3600 is assigned to the Moisture Management contract and $10,387 to the Lovell Excavating contract. Deanna moved and Eric seconded approval of the change; motion carried. Karen also recommended that the wording of the December 2007 Temporary Loan to the Capital Projects Fund be changed to read that $8000 would be borrowed from the Operating Fund Books Fund. The minutes had stated only the Operating Fund and the original proposal had specified the Operating Fund Equipment Fund.

Barbara provided the first quarter financial report showing that 23.5% of the budgeted funds had been expended. That report is appended to the minutes.

She provided an MBIA report that indicated that the highest investment earnings rate for the month had been 5.14%.

Claims added to the list of open items mailed to the board included Gun Dog Ranch, Central Indiana Marketing, Indiana Library Federation Unemployment fund, and Moisture Management.

Under Old Business Karen reported that she had attended a second meeting in Advance regarding improvements for the town that include a library. She will work with both Advance and the Tri-Area Library (Jamestown) planning teams as appropriate.

Jim Smith Electric has added rope lighting and fluorescent lighting to the children’s activity room. He is not quite finished but the overall lighting is very much improved already. He will add recessed can lights over the children’s librarian’s desk and a few electrical outlets. He will add two fluorescent fixtures to the upper level by the elevator exit.

Family Flooring has finished installing vinyl step covering and carpet, as well as repairing carpet.

In the drainage project the west sump pump has been installed and the west French drain enlarged. The sump will need to be monitored monthly to be sure it will fire when needed.

As previously requested, Karen provided a summary of computers purchased in 2004-2006 with dates, prices.

Under New Business the April 6 resignation of page Mary Schmucker was distributed; she has accepted a position as assistant town clerk at Advance. Her last day will be April 20. Deanna moved and Eric seconded that the resignation be approved and that Mary be paid for 9 days’ vacation and be allowed to finish on Tuesday, rather than Friday; motion carried. Mary’s hours will be temporarily absorbed by existing staff.

Home National Bank had submitted a request to use the program rooms of the library as an emergency banking facility in the event a disaster damages the 117 E. Main Street building. Patty moved and Deanna seconded the motion to approve the request; motion carried.

Eric moved and Deanna seconded that proposals be approved:
            2 parcels of fencing (east sump controls, backup power supply)        $2950.00
                        Craig L. White, vendor
            Landscaping                proposal by Beesley Landscaping                   $1723.50
            East Lot, compacting, stone, seeding by Lovell Excavating              $8400.00
            Tree stump removal, by McCoy’s Tree Service                                  $350.00

More than 700 fund-raising and gala invitation letters have been mailed by the Friends. The April 21 gala is to raise funds to re-create the Mills Memorial Fountain at the west entrance of the library. The ladies of the library board agreed to serve punch at the 5-6:00 p.m. reception, to acquire the products needed, and to set up the reception.

Patty moved and Stephanie moved that professional development requests be approved as submitted: $212.32 CompuTrain Conference for Karen and Barbara

A final report by Moisture Management was presented. There have been no interior wet spots during recent heavy rains. There will be a need to caulk and termination bars added at the foundation level of the building. Weeps will be needed in the brick wall that extends from the east entrance.

The request for funding from the Festival of the Turning Leaves organizers was turned over to the Friends of Thorntown Public Library, Inc.

There being no further business, Eric moved and Stephanie moved that the meeting be adjourned; motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.