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1. Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 by Chairman Edward Bluthardt, Jr. with the following committee members present:  John Annin and Leon Kukanich.  Absent and excused: Fred Radtke and Craig Weberg.

Others present during this meeting:  Jim Trojanowski, representing the Northern Waters Library System;  Diana Anderson, Director, Olsen Memorial Library;  Ida Nemec, Director, Plum Lake Library;  Shirley Harrison, Trustee of the Presque Isle Library and member of the NWLS;  Fern Madden, Trustee of the Presque Isle Library;  Michael Speer, Trustee of the Presque Isle Library;  Cherie Sanderson, Director, Boulder Junction Library;  Dick Held, Supervisor, Town of Arbor Vitae; and Vilas County Clerk David Alleman.

 

Open meeting notices and quorum present verified by the Chairman.

 

2. Approve Library Committee agenda to be discussed in any order by the Chair:

Motion by L. Kukanich, 2nd by J. Annin to approve the agenda with the order of discussion at the Chair’s discretion.  All voting aye.  Carried.

 

3. Approve Library Committee minutes of the August 28, 2007, meeting:

Motion by J. Annin, 2nd by L. Kukanich to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2007 meeting.  All voting aye.  Carried.

 

4.  Introductions:

Chair Bluthardt at this time called for introductions of all present.

 

5. Wisconsin Act 420 Issues:

The Chair asked if there were any new issues regarding Act 420.  He remarked that the Vilas County Board had passed a resolution joining many other counties in their opposition to Act 420.

With regards to the Town of Arbor Vitae, D. Held reported that the town was unsuccessful in joining the Plum Lake Library system.  He further stated that costs for the town to develop a modern library system were in excess of $500,000 and were prohibitive.  The Minocqua Library is willing to serve Arbor Vitae residents for a fee, but that will still not make Arbor Vitae a

libraried town, and would not prevent circulation costs associated with that town’s use of the Minocqua Library from being charged back to Vilas County. 

 

6.  Arbor Vitae – Status as a “Libraried Town”:

J. Trojanowski also reported that the negotiations between the Town of ArborVitae and the Plum Lake Library ended with the Town of Plum Lake deciding not to accept Arbor Vitae as a partner in their system.  Plum Lake’s primary concern was the fact that Arbor Vitae by statute would have a majority vote on the Plum Lake Library Board.  D. Held reported that further negotiations with the Town of Plum Lake were not anticipated.  He also stated that in spite of the costs, many Arbor Vitae residents prefer to use the Minocqua Library due to the convenience of that location.

J. Trojanowski suggested that Arbor Vitae may be able to enter into an agreement with the Minocqua Library for around $38,000 per year on a 3 year agreement, whereby the Minocqua Library would also agree not to charge Vilas County for Arbor Vitae’s circulation costs.  D. Held said that the town did not have that amount of funds available.  J. Trojanowski suggested that Arbor Vitae and Vilas County partner in that funding until Arbor Vitae could stand on their own financially.  The Clerk asked J. Trojanowski if the Town of Arbor Vitae could join the Olsen

 

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Memorial Library System, as that system bases their annual contribution amounts solely on circulation.  This action would cause Arbor Vitae to become “libraried” thus removing the annual charge levied against Vilas County.  J. Trojanowski indicated that was an option.           D. Anderson, Director of the Olsen Library, further stated that their system would be willing to consider that possibility, and invited a representative from Arbor Vitae to their next board meeting.

 

7.  2007 – Arbor Vitae - Vilas County Library Contributions:

The issue of the Town of Arbor Vitae continuing to receive funds from Vilas County for library support was discussed.  The Clerk reported that he had been instructed by the Finance Committee to withhold the 2007 payment of $2,800.00 to Arbor Vitae.  The consensus of the committee was that as long as the Town of Arbor Vitae was not libraried, and the result was continued charges levied against Vilas County, no further library support funds should be provided to Arbor Vitae.  The Chair further stated that this was not a punitive action, but an action that was in line with the County’s intent to financially help towns that fund local library systems.  Motion by J. Annin, 2nd by L. Kukanich to return the 2007 payment of $2,800.00 earmarked for Arbor Vitae to the General Fund.  All voting aye.  Carried.  The Chair further instructed the Clerk to inform the Finance Committee of this action.

 

8.  2008 - Vilas County Contributions to Area Libraries:

Motion by L. Kukanich, 2nd by J. Annin to pay the 2008 contribution amount of $2,800.00 to the local library systems with the exception of the Town of Arbor Vitae.  Arbor Vitae will have their 2008 funds withheld by Vilas County pending that town becoming part of a library system.  All voting aye.  Carried.  The Chair again instructed the Clerk to inform the Finance Committee of this decision.

 

9.  Letters and Communications:

S. Harrison presented a written report from the Presque Isle Community Library system detailing 2007 circulation figures.

 

10.  Future meeting dates:

The Chair stated that a definite meeting date was not warranted at this time, and instructed the Clerk to inform him of any future developments that could make a future meeting date necessary.

 

11.  Adjournment:

Motion by L. Kukanich, 2nd by J. Annin to adjourn.  All voting aye.  Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 10:45 A.M.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

David R. Alleman

Vilas County Clerk