The next regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the East Hills Library.
Minutes from the November 20, 2025 Board meeting:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
November 20, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Washington Park Library
M I N U T E S
The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph Public Library met on November 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Washington Park Library. Trustees in attendance were Rosetta Ballew-Jennings, Kathie Brunner (via Zoom), Bobbie Cronk, Kate Davison, Heidi DeSchepper, Harriet Gordon, and Jonht Slayden. Kyla Ward and LaTonya Williams were absent. Michael Keenan attended from Hood and Associates CPAs, PC. Library staff attending were Director Mary Beth Revels, Washington Park Manager Karen Schultz, East Hills Manager Crystal Stuck, and Administrative Assistant Katie Green.
Rosetta Ballew-Jennings called the meeting to order the roll call was taken.
Mary Beth Revels introduced auditor Michael Keenan of Hood & Associates. Mr. Keenan detailed Hood & Associates’ credentials and provided all in attendance with bound copies of the 2024-2025 audit reports. He presented an audit summary, showing no problematic findings from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. He also discussed the current and past year’s comments. Bobbie Cronk moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to accept the 2024-2025 financial audit as presented. All Board Members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Upon review of the October 23, 2025 meeting minutes, Kate Davison moved and Jonht Slayden seconded that the October 23, 2025 minutes be approved as written. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes”. Motion carried.
Under the Report of the Treasurer, Jonht Slayden moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to approve checks #35806 through #35857, October electronic withdrawals, direct deposits, and journal entries. Six Trustees in attendance voted “yes,” one voted “no,” and the motion carried.
Bobbie Cronk presented the October Financial Reports. She and Mary Beth Revels met with accountant Tim Gawatz to discuss the reports and there were no concerns to report. Jonht Slayden moved and Heidi DeSchepper seconded to accept pages 9-22 of the financial report as presented. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
There were no Committee Reports.
Under Old Business, Mary Beth Revels presented the Library Projects Overview and highlighted upcoming improvements coming to the Downtown Library as part of the Northwest Health project to renovate the building, as well as information about the parking lot at the East Hills Library, and LED lighting at the Washington Park Library.
There was no other Old Business.
In New Business, Mary Beth Revels presented a Purchasing Policy and discussion ensued. It was decided Mary Beth Revels would work on edits to the policy with one or two Board members and present the policy for a vote at a later meeting. Bobbie Cronk moved and Jonht Slayden seconded to table voting on the Purchasing Policy. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes” to table the vote. Motion carried.
Next, Mary Beth Revels presented bids for snow and ice removal and lawncare for the East Hills, Washington Park, and Carnegie libraries. Of the ten landscaping companies asked to bid, five responded. After breaking down all bids into like terms and analyzing them, staff recommended accepting McCormick Lawncare’s bid. Board discussion led to adding the condition that McCormick does not use subcontractors for snow removal. Bobbie Cronk moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to approve the bid from McCormick Lawncare with the condition that subcontractors are not used for snow removal. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes” and the motion passed.
The Board then heard from the Washington Park Library Manager, Karen Schultz. Karen shared exciting news about River Bluff Gateway funding from the city, as well as a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. She discussed plans for improvements at the library. Karen also noted her statistics show that usage of the library is growing again after a long post-pandemic lull.
Under Other, Mary Beth Revels requested amending the Public Services Policy to state that faxing is only available at the East Hills and Downtown libraries. The company the library works with to provide self-service faxing won’t install machines at the Carnegie and Washington Park libraries because so few faxes are sent from those two locations. Jonht Slayden moved and Heidi DeSchepper seconded to edit the Public Services Policy as requested. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes”. The motion passed.
There was no other New Business.
Under the Report of the Director, Mary Beth Revels announced that Erika Martinez Trejo received an award from Latinos Connect, and reported on a fun Spirit Week for staff organized by the F.A.M.E. (Fun and Morale for Employees) committee, a successful Haunted Library at the Downtown Library, and another Excel High School graduation ceremony, bringing the total number of graduates to 13.
There was no other Board discussion or public comment.
The next meeting will be December 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., at the Downtown Library.
There being no further business, Heidi DeSchepper moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to adjourn the meeting. All Trustees in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Harriet Gordon
Secretary