October 9, 2023
Benton Public Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
October 9, 2023
Members Present: Sue Wells, Brian Crisp, Pat Hollada, Theresa Bates, Kathy Storey, Debbie Clark, Larry Journey
Absent: None
Library Director: Susan Stickel
Also present: None
Meeting called to Order: 5:30 pm by Sue Wells
Approval of September Board Meeting Minutes
| 1st by Debbie Clark | 2nd by Theresa Bates |
Payment of Bills:
N/A due to absence of Kim Livesay (tabled until further notice)
Financial Report:
N/A due to absence of Kim Livesay (tabled until further notice)
Librarian’s Report:
MAINTENANCE:
The employee entrance railings and South Main Street railings have been sanded and repainted.
F.W. Electric has performed the fall maintenance in preparation of the winter season
The additional fencing has been installed.
Davis Tree Serrvice has taken care of the maintenance of the trees on the library property.
The driveway lot next door has been maintained.
Susan reached out to Plantscape Nursery for their advice on anything that might need attention before the winter season in the Reading Garden.
Susan has asked for a quote from Midwest Contracting to side the small shed. We have all of the materials to do it. Their quote was $2,400.00. They do work for us quite often.
Motion to hire Midwest Contractors to hire them to complete the project
| 1st by Pat Hollada | 2nd by Debbie Clark | (The motion passed) |
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The first Senior Story Hour was held on Monday, October 2nd. It was well attended.
Pat invited Susan to attend her Sunday School class picnic that was held in the Reading Garden Pavilion. It was well attended and we received many compliments about the garden. The class made a $200 donation to the library for the Reading Garden.
The library brochures have been updated with the new board members’names and sill soon be ready to distribute.
The library has been invited to Head Start this month. We will be reading to the children and giving a brief presentation.
PROGRAMMING:
The library will be discontinuing the monthly craft class. Kimberly has again prepared the monthly calendar of events for October.
There was a Magnolia tree that was recently planted in honor of a loved one.
OTHER:
Henry has organized the storage sheds.
Susan brought up the idea of working with the city to complete a sidewalk that runs behind the library property and the Pirate Ship. The library would pay half and the city would pay half. The quote we got for 80 feet to be completed was $375.00. We brought up the idea to continue the sidewalk past the 80 feet to the end of the property.
Motion was made to give Susan the authority to check with the city about the complete concrete pour and authorize the completion of the project if the price is not too expenxive.
| 1st by Brian Crisp | 2nd by Pat Hollada | (motion passed) |
Susan brought up the deteriorating condition of Mr A’s map on the asphalt on the north side of the parking lot. Repainting it may make it look better, but it will just get worse over time. Brian mentioned that we could take a photograph of the map and get it framed and disply it in the library.
Susan mentioned that Henry had built a train at home and was wondering if it would be okay if it was brought up for special events that kids could ride in. She checked with Hilary Rea at SCD Rea and sons and we are covered by our insurance for this. We went outside after the meeting to check out the train.
Old Business:
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None
Personnel:
None
Debbie showed the different colors of stain for the four picnic tables outside. She went to Ace Hardware and got samples and advice from them. They think it would take two gallons of Ace Premium Wood Royale to complete the project. We would also need to get brushes for this project.
Debbie mentioned that several of us could get together and finish this project by ourselves.
Motion to close the Reading Garden and Pirate Ship from November 1 until April 1 each year due to the possibility of inclement weather. This closing schedule would coincide with the Benton Park District’s schedule.
| 1st by Theresa Bates | 2nd by Brian Crisp | (motion passed) |
New Business
The library will continue to check on prices for battery powered blowers. Larry will be getting with Susan about this and we have given her permission to purchase one.
Larry mentioned that he would like to see the following week of events past the upcoming month’s calendar of events so we might not miss something. Brian mentioned to Susan to get the following month to add to it instead of just one week to make the calendars easier to read and to format correctly.
We mentioned that we would like to start next month’s meeting at 5:00 pm instead of 5:30 pm.
We all agreed that we could make that time work for us.
Other
Debbie Clark is going to check with Positive Impressions about polo shirts and prices for library board members and staff.
Public Comment:
NONE
Adjournment: 6:18 pm by Sue Wells
| 1st by Debbie Clark | 2nd by Kathy Storey |
