The next regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library.
Minutes from the June 26, 2025 Board meeting:
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
June 26, 2025, 6:00 p.m., East Hills Library
M I N U T E S
The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph Public Library met on June 26, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the East Hills Library. Board members in attendance were Joshua Bachman, Heidi DeSchepper, Harriet Gordon, David Jordan, Jonht Slayden, Kyla Ward, and LaTonya Williams. Rosetta Ballew-Jennings and Bobbie Cronk were absent. Mary Beth Revels, Crystal Stuck, and Katie Green were present from the staff.
Kyla Ward called the meeting to order and the roll call was taken.
Upon review of the May 22, 2025 meeting minutes, LaTonya Williams moved and David Jordan seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Under the Report of the Treasurer, Heidi DeSchepper moved and David Jordan seconded to approve checks #35555 through #35594, May electronic withdrawals, direct deposits, and journal entries. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the May Financial Reports, pointing out that while both revenues and expenses for the fiscal year are higher than expected, revenue is still the greater of the two. Jonht Slayden moved and LaTonya Williams seconded to accept pages 8-21 of the financial report as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
The 2025-2026 Annual Budget was presented by David Jordan. David Jordan moved that it was the recommendation of the Budget Committee to approve the 2025-2026 annual budget as presented. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Under Reports of Committees, Kyla Ward reported that the Personnel Committee plans to present the director’s evaluation in July as scheduled.
There were no other Committee Reports.
Under Old Business, Mary Beth Revels provided an update on ongoing library projects, announcing that the restoration of the front wall at the Downtown Library is essentially complete. The Washington Park Library is requesting bids for masonry and concrete repairs.
There was no other Old Business.
In New Business, Mary Beth Revels asked for approval from the Board of Trustees to explore the possibility of adding Buchanan County to the list of counties in Missouri that allow a voter approved sales tax to fund a library district. There will be a bill introduced in the next legislative session to add to the list of counties where the sales tax option is allowed. Heidi DeSchepper moved and Harriet Gordon seconded to move forward with working toward adding Buchanan County to a library sales tax bill in the Missouri Legislature. All Board members in attendance voted “yes” and the motion carried.
Next in New Business, Mary Beth Revels presented four edited policies for review and approval. Under the “Public Assembly and Petitioning and Distribution of Literature on Library District Property Policy” an additional edit was suggested. LaTonya Williams moved and David Jordan seconded to approve the updates to the policy as edited. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Under the “Social Media Policy” additional edits were suggested. LaTonya Williams moved and Jonht Slayden seconded to approve the edits to the policy as discussed. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Mary Beth Revels presented the “Suspension of Privileges for Health and Safety Reasons Policy” and additional edits were discussed. LaTonya Williams moved and Jonht Slayden seconded to approve the updates to the policy as discussed. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Under the “3D Printer Policy” several edits were discussed. LaTonya Williams moved and Heidi DeSchepper seconded to approve the updates to the policy as discussed. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Crystal Stuck, Branch Manager of the East Hills Library, announced that the Summer Reading Program is in full swing and the branch offers a themed photo op with staff-made oversized art supplies. Crystal also passed around a drawing of the city’s plan to build a new bus terminal in the parking lot on the Visitor’s Center side of the building, noting that it would be helpful to add library signage to that side of the building to bring more potential patrons into the library space.
Joshua Bachman and David Jordan were honored for their time on the Board of Trustees. Heartfelt resolutions were read by Kyla Ward thanking each of them for their years of dedication and service. She presented both with beautiful engraved crystal books to remember their time on the library board.
In the Director’s Report, Mary Beth Revels shared photos of a successful Summer Reading Program Kick Off Party that drew 345 people. The F.A.M.E. Committee (Fun and Morale for Employees) hosted a “May the Fourth” staff picnic at Bartlett Park.
There was no board discussion or public comment.
The next meeting will be on July 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., at Washington Park Library.
There being no further business, Joshua Bachman moved and David Jordan seconded to adjourn the meeting. All Board members in attendance voted “yes.” Motion carried.
Harriet Gordon
Secretary