Okay. Yeah. Let's call Thursday, February 26 board of trustees for the Grand Library meeting to order. I'm Sarah Mcnanis, board chair. Sue Mlone, trustee board trustee. >> Nancy Jar, trustee. >> Dave Mills, county commissioner.
>> Electra Branwin, library director. >> Kim Benbeck, finance director. >> Thank you for being with us tonight, Kim. Um, we don't have anything for the open forum. So, let's move forward to the consent agenda, which has the approval
of the agenda and the approval of the bills. Anything anyone wants to pull from the consent agenda? >> I'll move to approve. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor?
>> I oppose. Motion passes unanimously. And now we have Kim here to take us through our finances. Thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate your time. >> You're welcome. Has everyone had a chance to review the statements? >> I had to take it off. So
>> So in your financial policy, you wanted to set aside certain amounts for operating expenses, insurance deductible, and technology replacement. and we put them in. We're looking at this investment page
and the 215102 which just means restricted cash. So if you add up those things that is 194,414.39 the remaining balance is what is
available to these funds would be 61,16940 as of December. So, as I'm looking through your policy for 2026 based on your budgeted expenses,
um you want to then increase that amount to 127703 >> increase for the 61,000 >> the um the 215 101. >> Yeah. this 18 118,500
which is your operational reserve for 2025. So this will continue each year as your expenses increase. You would need to increase that amount to follow your policy. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> So our current insurance deductible is
20,000. So you can decide whether you want to leave it at 10 or increase it to 20. And then the carpet replacement will just happen 2,000 each year with the
money designated from the city and the county. Okay. We go to the next page which is the balance sheet in your pocket. 211 is your operating expenses,15718.
If you want to keep 50% of your expenses kind of in your cash, that would be a best case scenario. 25 to 50% is what's recommended.
And this reasoning is that you get property taxes twice a year, 6 months apart. So you are in very good shape. The next page is your 215 cash. And you can see in your designated
funds here on the bottom parts the 118500 in a restricted balance. You can see the 10,000 in the insurance reserve. You can see 38,000 in carpet fund and the 27500 for your
technology. So those funds will be your placeholders for those items. >> Okay. Okay, we can skip page three and go to
the revenues for your operating fund. You can see here this 220,4 is what is received from the county payment that they do directly around 29,000. Mhm.
>> So you can see that the transfer from the general fund is that 2930,000 more to make up that difference. And you can see there was a little bit in library fines that were
for other libraries. um how much was revenue was made from copies and book replacement and then contributions that were not um identified for anything but where you
wanted them. If you look at the next page is your 215 fund and this um other county grants should be a thousand. And I would have to look at my numbers to see why there's
an extra 164. And when you look at the year-to-ate balance column, you can see like we didn't budget for contributions, but you got 20,000. You had interest earnings of 2,288
other grants from the Minnesota Foundation 1533. Your ALS crossover 28.84 84 and then this,000 from the city for your carpet fund.
This um amount below that is 6,000 in earnings from the two 215 um or of your money markets there. And this 100,000 is that transfer to make
your funds according to your financial policy. >> Okay. Now if we go to the expenditure guideline be for 211. These are all the codes that we have for
the library for your operating fund. You can see what your budget was in the first column, your December amount, how much was spent year to date in December. And this balance column tells you whether you overbudgeted or under
budgeted. So you overbudgeted 95,597. Now a lot of that is up there in salaries and we had, you know, positions that were not filled.
So that money stays with the library. That was um your marked for the library. It stays with the li. >> Is there any questions about any of that? >> And then where does that go?
>> It stays in your library. >> 211. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. We go to 215 and see the only thing we budget here is that 2,000 that goes into your carpet
fund. Everything else is what you've spent out of that 215 for various special items. Let's see capital equipment. I know that included
um your air source heat pumps and um you have your back the computer purchase. >> Yeah. So, do you have any questions? >> Um, when just thinking ahead because we have
to get our budget ready soon to get to the city to get to the county. >> Yeah. When do we see year end 2025 numbers? >> This is the year end. >> This one has >> Yeah, there might be a few adjustments
but there the cash will remain the same. >> Okay, perfect. >> And it would be more about capital things probably. >> Okay. So capital is typically it has to be
more than $2500 for that purchase and it needs to be something that is either new or increases the value of the building or something like that. >> And that's I'm sorry that I didn't I
didn't hear that you have it's either my hearing or your very soft voice. >> Um you were saying that that's a capital expense. It has to be more than >> $2,500 >> and that comes if it's more than 2500 it
comes out of the 211 or the 215. >> Um the way you've been operating it's been coming out of 215. >> Okay. Okay. That's what I thought. But I wanted to >> as time goes on and this 215 maybe dwindles or we don't get these big
endowments like Hazel Matthews or Lydia Miller or Will Storland, the library should start thinking about what is our depreciation schedule and putting that amount aside each month so that when you
do have a big purchase, you have that money already saved >> and you're not making the levy >> high and then low. And >> I think that it becomes increasingly important these days um to keep the 215 as should we say
healthy as possible because well if you read the paper this morning you know that um the the federal government is is trying to cut Medicaid for Minnesota. What that means is as
these things become get cut some local maybe the county maybe the city whatever it is that they have to make up funding for that uh we may get less I'm kind of looking I mean we're living in a rather shall we say
dystopian time and we just don't know what funding cuts for other services are going to mean for us the library. >> Does that make sense? >> It's a good point. Yeah. >> Um, so looking at the 215, it looks like
we have a balance of 46,000 that >> 215. >> Yeah. >> No, no, it should be more. >> The 215 has >> Oh, I'm sorry. Wrong column. >> Okay. >> 190.
>> The 215 has 255,58379. Is that on the first page? Is that what you want? >> That's on this one. >> Yeah. >> So, it What level do you think we might want to put together a capital plan?
>> Um, when I looked at depreciation today, it's in that 47,000. >> Okay. >> Area. >> Oh, okay. And right now your cash balance into 21 is very healthy.
If you're looking at expenses of I think it was 510,000 budgeted for 26. You think half of that is in the 250,000? Yeah. You're in very good shape right
now to absorb some >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Can you talk a little bit about the different accounts that the 215 money is in and why?
>> Okay. Yes. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. So, the 215 we've held it very liquid for a long time and um you know the the local banks don't seem to want to give us very good interest.
So, if you want me to move it to the League of Minnesota Cities, I can do that. Um, our other options would be to put them into CDs or treasuries, but we don't have a lot of options, other places to put them.
>> So, right, >> is the magic fund available to cities? Do you know? >> Magic. >> That's it's an acronym. >> I haven't heard of magic fund. Is that for counties? county stuff. Yeah. >> Yeah. So that would be the League of Minnesota Cities.
>> Okay. >> Equivalent, I would think. So >> currently we can use um RBC, the Royal Bank of Canada. We have um I'm working on getting Morton
Investments and the League of Minnesota Cities and our local banks. So you can see right now SSB is Security State Bank.
We have remaining in there 41,399.75. I took that 100 out of there to pay for the cash deficit that we had in 215 cash. Mhm. >> And then the the Northshore Federal Credit Union has
this 18,500 and this 2,782. So you get that 10% in the patron patronage account for the 2700, >> but that 18500 is barely making anything.
>> Mhm. So, um, the library is the only entity that has any money in the Northshore Federal Credit Union for the city right now. So, we would be taking that bank out of the mix,
but we can do that. >> Oh, I see. Because the patronage is tied to that, >> right, account? Yep. >> I see. But for the little bit that we're making on the 18,000, >> we could put it into the League of Minnesota Cities and do far better.
>> Let's Let's make some more money here. This is >> Okay, this is silly. >> I know that I know that obviously it varies, but what is the rate of return at the moment for the League of Minnesota Cities? >> Um, >> 3.4
>> I have 3.48. I'm not sure if I looked very closely at that when I printed this. >> Oh, I see it here. >> But it's in that neighborhood. It's doing very well. >> I see it. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> The the only thing I'd caution, at least from if this is parallel to the county
stuff, is that >> it's been performing exceptionally well >> and that it's maybe not wise to budget >> that high, but I don't I don't have perspective of what would be appropriate, >> right? because as you're seeing in the
market, the rates are starting to come down. >> You know, we thought they were going to come down a lot faster, but they're really holding much more steady than we thought. >> Yeah. >> So, you can put them in a CD and then you're locked in at that rate for the
term of that >> or you can let it ride in the in the 4M fund. >> Um, >> so the 4M fund would still be liquid. We would have access to that cash. >> Yes. >> Yep.
>> And what did you say we'd end up with if we did Royal Bank of Canada? >> That would be more CDs. So that would be one that you get locked into. >> I think the last look I did would be the maximum would be 3.9%.
>> Which is really very close to what the 4M fund is. Well, this may be a silly question, but I was just working on the um tax for the Grandary condos and we have a couple of CDs and made well what for us is a fair
amount of money, >> but we had we were taxed on it. >> That's about 30% for us. >> Yeah. The city is tax exempt, especially the library. >> Yeah. So, what is our tax rate? >> We don't pay taxes. >> We don't you don't pay taxes. I'm sorry.
I misunderstood. >> Okay. Well, that's good >> because that was that created a bit of a hoo-ha. Why were we paying so much in taxes? But so, that's good that we don't pay taxes. >> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Anything else for Kim? >> No. It helps. It helps to have someone just kind of run through it and make us look at it here. >> Yeah. No, that's true. And that's good to know. >> But I really I I'll just go back to what
I said before. Um I think we should we we we need to spend out of the 215 for when we need to spend out of it, but we should also be really careful. >> Yeah. at looking ahead because it could be
that the 211 at some point could just shrink. Maybe the county won't have the money to give us or maybe the city won't have the money to give us. >> So the library is 100% a property tax levy. >> Yeah.
>> For both the county and the city. >> Oh, for both county and city. Well, that's good to know. Does the percentage change? Is it a percentage of the taxes levied or does that >> do you see what I'm saying?
>> So we set a we set a dollar amount budget. >> Okay. And then that's applied to the the property values um overall and then
divided according to the property values and >> well I guess yeah maybe >> so it does change. >> Yeah it's very complicated but the only piece the city has is that dollar amount levy. >> Okay. Well, my I guess my question is is
let's say just for the sake of being silly and using numbers, I understand. Let's say the the county or the city gets, you know, $10 in taxes and has to spread it out. Now, is there a particular rate?
Will the library always get $1 of that $10 or does that vary according to the needs? >> It's based on what the library's budget is. dollar amount, >> right? >> That's what the library gets as long as it's passed by the city and the county. >> Right.
>> Right. I guess my question is are there mandated things in the city and the the county that could impact what the library gets? say we want a certain we want a $100 budget but the for example just to
use a round number that's our budget but the county do you have mandated things that you have to pay for and if your overall if some of those things become more expensive because you're not say getting
federal funding or Medicare is on my mind at the moment >> then could you turn around and say I'm sorry library I know your budget is X, but we just don't have it. >> Well, there's a joint powers agreement between the city and the county, and
within that, the county must um uh match the city's approved budget if it's less than a 5% increase. >> So, there's that. Um >> yeah, >> but aside from that, actually, I don't
know. I think to keep it more simple, >> yeah, >> is the city has all the departments that put in their budget request just like you do. >> And then as we get toward the final levy, we're looking at places to
cut so that we will do a levy between 3 and 5% that won't throw property taxes so high. >> Okay? you know, we need to be responsible with with the citizens dollars,
and that's kind of where we like to keep it, >> okay? >> Where you're keeping up with inflation, but you're not making a huge tax bill for people. >> Okay. >> Does the city receive any kind of federal funding for various programs or
not? >> No. >> No. What about the county? >> Uh through the state primarily. There's highway ones I think that are purely federal. >> How about >> Yeah. >> How about Medicare and some of these
other services? >> I think that's through the state. >> That's through the state, not the county. Okay. >> I mean the the fund is >> the county is the state, but it's the funding's through the state. Yeah. The county is an arm of the state, >> but our med our our Medicaid Medicare
stuff comes through the state rather than funding from the feds. the feds goes to the state, >> right? State want to give any to the state right now, >> right? >> So, does that mean the county will >> Well, we'll see what the state does. >> Yeah,
>> that's kind of the next step. >> Yeah, but you see where I'm going with this. >> Oh, yeah. Well, no. Yeah, you can you can go forever is the thing. >> Yeah. Well, >> and you got to just kind of >> shore up what we can and >> Right. Okay. But that's just it.
need to be aware that we're gonna have to shore things up. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, >> there was there was another, you know, with the SNAP benefits, you know, >> um it got it got resolved and there it
was it was stressful and um there were impacts and >> you know, so it's Yeah. No, it's >> I don't I don't want to make this more complicated than it needs to be. It's just I do worry about we're looking at just
>> hard times. >> Sure. >> Thank you for this overview >> answering some of questions. >> You're welcome. >> Thanks. Bye. Have a good night.
>> Last night. >> That was very helpful. >> Yeah. >> It's all there all the time for us to look at, but it kind of helps to have someone make you look at it. >> Yeah. No, that's true. >> That's really true.
>> Yeah. >> And you know, it can always get re reacquainted too, you know. >> Mhm. Just good to get refreshers, >> for sure. So, I'm taking minutes um in ENO's absence and I just wanted to circle back. Were any decisions made
about Kim's recommendation to increase the amount in the operational reserve, the 25% from 118 to 127? And were you making any decisions about
the um NSFCU funds or and the FM 4mm funds? >> Any decisions? >> No, we just shook our heads and nodded. We didn't decide anything. >> Can you say the first
>> in the financial policy? Mhm. >> The operational reserve is set to be about 25% of the library's operating expenses. That's a goal that the trustees set. >> In 2025, that amount was $118,500.
>> With the current budget, 25% would actually look like 12773. >> Yeah. >> But that money would have to be moved. And I think that's what Kim was asking. >> Okay. Well, I think we should stay within
policy. So, we'd want to do that for sure. >> Take her advice here. >> Um, yeah. >> Is that a motion to amend the policy to update the policy with the correct >> policy? Just follow because this is just
a sample number. >> That was last year's, right? Yep. >> It's a 25% or >> 25% doesn't change >> right >> the year and the numbers change which doesn't require a policy update. No. >> And so I don't think we need a motion
for that direction but I'm happy to if you do >> if if the policyy's working the way that we want. That's really >> okay. >> Yeah. Sweet. And then did we want to move any of the or do you want to think about um do we
want to move any of the funds to the higher interest account? >> I'm all for giving higher interest. I don't see what's wrong with what's dangerous about it. I suppose you don't want to put too many things in one place. >> The one thing that you pointed out is it has to be somewhat liquid. you know, if
you tie up $100,000 and get 4% or three and a half percent, you know, then it's all it's tied up for that time, you know, and then you don't have it to use. >> You have to be careful about, you know, flow. And >> yeah, so that top fund, the League of
Minnesota City's 4M fund at the 3 just under 3.5% she said was a liquid account. >> Yeah. >> As opposed to a CD. >> Yes. >> Yes. So we should have things money in there as opposed to getting.9%
and >> yes >> security state bank that's that's a lot of money making no money >> that's terrible.9%. >> Well any any account that you have security or grand state bank is going to get that you know 1% or
>> that looks like it's our checking. Yeah, it's a checking account. I'm That's what it would be if grandm >> I'm I'm curious about this 10%. That's the patron inch rebate. >> Yeah. >> And so we need the other account
to have that. >> Yes. >> And that'll just grow presumably >> it's growing on >> right >> 2700. It's not much money, but it's good interest on what's in there. >> Yeah.
>> Well, it's on the 18,492, so it's not a lot of money in there either. >> No. >> Well, the patronage, right? Yeah. >> I'd be curious though how to maximize that. Or is it that not a thing?
>> Like I know we have it personally, but I thought it was it was based on like a mortgage. >> Um, so that wouldn't apply here. I think if we wanted to get a better return, we'd have to go to a CD or money market
account or something and then then we'd be less liquid. >> Well, can we put some in that that uh what is it for the 4M and the 4M if it's liquid?
Oh, I think that might be the magic fund. The 4M. >> It's got an M in it. Four times magic. >> Does Kim move this money around or who doesn't? >> She does. >> She does. >> Yeah, that's
um I think that's fine. Oh, >> can we just ask him her best what her best advice about how much to move? >> Yeah, we should have done that while she was sitting here, but we still can.
>> Yeah, and I think she was suggesting we move the credit union's 18,000. >> Yeah. >> To the form. >> Let's verify that. And if she verifies it, let's do it. >> Sounds good. We're verifying. Did Kim recommend to
move 18,515 to the forum fund? And if yes, do it. >> Yes. Yes. >> And what about the 2,000? >> You're wanting that to stay where it is. I think we have to have a credit union
account to keep that. So that may be a clarifying point. Does the 2000 move with it or does it stick? >> Do we need to make a one of the outcomes cause you to have a different decision? Like if she says yes, it stays with it.
Everything's got to go. >> No, I guess I was just wondering if there's a way to maximize that differently, but I doubt it. So, probably just all goes, I'm guessing. Should we just ask to maximize the
funds? >> There you go. Okay. Does that need to be moved or >> or not? Moved or seconded and all of that formal. >> I'll I'll move to >> Okay. Do it.
>> Move to maximize. Move to maximize. I'll second to maximize. >> Motion in a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes unanimously. Okay.
>> All right. That brings us to the boilers replacement. Speaking of money. >> Okay. So, just a slight bit of context in 2022. Jamar company was here and they did a heating
system assessment for the library and at that time they shared that our boilers were installed in 2011 and that they were showing their age. They recommended that somewhere down the road we would need replacement but they were not willing to provide an estimate
on its life cycle. Um, the group that often has uh come through and done an annual inspection or test on our equipment is
maybe going out of business or not servicing us. And they noted that the unit we have is one that is is the the unit the boiler unit is going out of manufacturer.
So, that prompted our conversation to look at what it would take to replace the boilers. There's not a lot of news to report yet. I have asked um two local companies. One
is only focusing on residential work um and I also contacted Jammore. Okay. >> Is there a a possibility to use electric boilers?
>> Can I ask on electric boilers for a long time? Maybe 50 years. I don't know. It's a long time. It's an old system, but it's all electric. >> It has the potential to run, you know, regular burning. So, it's a dual fuel system. We've never Well, almost never
used the oil. So, >> we're dual fuel, too. And we do end up switching between them. >> Mhm. Well, yeah, there's the off peak and then there's the dual fuel. Um, so either one could maybe be an option. I think maybe the system has to be
designed for the off peak, though. Like, there's in flooror heat, it might be enough mass, but it wasn't designed for it. I don't know. Do you like that dual fuel system? I mean, is it >> Well, we have to because you know, sometimes there's not electricity.
Sorry. >> It happens. >> It does happen. >> Yeah. But I think, you know, you bring up off peak. I can't see off peak for a public building like this. I mean, you gets real warm at night and then real cold in the day.
Yeah. >> Um, when I spoke with Lenny about the boiler, he had um an expressed interest in having a propane option just to round out what's available in the library.
We also have two boilers and they create a redundancy that we've relied on and so he's interested in a scenario that retains that. >> So 2011 is not really a massively old
boiler. Are you are you worried? I'm not at this point worried. So, you can see some of the problems that were articulated in this report, including the neutralizer assemblies, >> and we took care of those and had them
replaced in 2024. >> The corrosion is still there that you can see in the photos. That's there. I think the last, if I, if I'm remembering correctly, the last significant repair I had on them was in 2024 and November,
and they kept shorting out. They kept needing to be reset and there was a wire or a thing that needed to be repaired and they've been stable since that point because even though the company's going
out of business, the owner of a resort with all sorts of heating equipment that's gone out of business quite a long time ago, things do continue for a long time. Even when the company's out of business, hearts can be found. People around here are pretty accustomed to
figuring out how to do without. And you might not be at the end of life here. I have to think about it. I realize that. But 2011 is actually not super old. >> I think the average age for commercial
boilers is 15 to 30 and this is 15. >> The churches is is at least 50. Yeah, ours is >> it's getting difficult to parts and things like that. >> It's actually the best winter we've had
since I've been the treasurer because it hasn't broken down yet. Any other direction for elector regarding the boilers? And then just to follow through with getting some quotes and have a have a baseline. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. Quotes and options. >> Sure. You might as well be informed about what maybe you don't need to, but the more you know, the more prepared you are. >> So the the other boiler is propane, right? >> We have two boilers.
>> Yep. Yep. They're identical and they're both propane. >> Yeah. >> And so is Lenny wanting both to be propane or just at least one of them? >> Just having the flexibility to rely on propane and and electrical.
>> Yeah. >> Situations. Yeah. >> Both boilers though or just the one? >> Well, I think the one >> just having the just having the option, the possibility. >> Yeah. >> So maybe dual fuel will be option. We'll
see what they say. >> All right. So, moving on. Strategic plan implementation. We had looked at different areas of priority. Finance was one we agreed to look at first. We had Kim here. I think that was really helpful for all of us. Um,
I think if you want to think about what we want to do for quarter 2 or a board activity that moves the strategic plan forward, that would be great and we can discuss in March and then act on it in April.
>> What would you suggest? >> It's a good question. Focus area two was so nice. The finances were >> Yeah. Did we determine another area >> or I think we wanted to work in on something in all the areas. Um if we
wanted to do a survey, I think thinking about what it is we want to achieve from a survey would be a good step. >> That's part of outreach. >> That's part of the outreach one. >> Um But thinking about the community engagement generally, I think would be
good. >> Well, one of the things I've been thinking is if if we want to have some outreach to Portage, Grand Portage, we could just start by determining who we'd like to talk to up there. Would we
like to talk to, let's say, people in the preschool? Would we like to talk to people in, you know, the higher grades? Um, are there other areas? I don't know, maybe the senior center or whatever. I just talk to people and see what
what the folks running those places or working with those particular ages um see as something the library could could do that would be you know be
useful because I think sometimes I've been in other groups where people talked about well we have to outreach to this or that but they really didn't necessarily go to the people and say, "What do you need?" I mean, I think it's it it it's simple
first step. >> Maybe that could be a survey. Maybe that could be some interviews, maybe there are different ways of doing it. But if we determine to whom we want to reach out
before we think about how to do it, we ask them what they want. What kind of outreach would actually be beneficial? >> What current partnerships do we have with portage? Um,
we did have an exchange with Oshki Ogumab and sometimes the library would go there and sometimes the students would come here. >> And we have not been maintaining that during the transition of staffing.
>> Yeah. >> Well, that's yeah, that's the other question is who's going to do it? >> Can only do so much. But it still wouldn't hurt to to at least find out what people might want and think about
how to do it when and if we have the staff to do it. >> Yeah. It's just I the setting expectations, right? >> You're right about that. You're right about that. >> Be good to follow through. So wouldn't you want to start something and then just
>> Yeah. No, you're absolutely right about that. >> So maybe our discussion point for next time should be um outreach survey implementation something like that. Is that where people are going with this? I mean we aren't even
sure what we want to survey. >> Yeah. I think that would be a good first step is what do we hope to achieve from a survey and then who would we want to ask? >> Yes, let's make that what we discuss next time and we can think about it a little ahead of time. Mhm.
And then we're ready for elector report. The professional security camera system is installed and operational and we've received some training on footage retrieval and their configuration I believe is now set up and complete. So
um with some staff training pending that project is complete. >> That's great. >> Yeah. winter reading program is going on and on February 20th we delivered our first prize basket for the adult
programs and Amanda Weeberg uh was here to collect a breakfast bundle basket that was so much fun. Tomorrow after 3 we'll do another drawing for the adults. There are six prize baskets total and they're all lined up over here if you'd like to see them on your way out. and
staff did a great job of curating the materials in each of the themed baskets. Um the adults are also getting to choose from uh two books from what we have on hand for them to look at.
the youth program. Um, we're really encouraging a strong reading response and uh with the first bingo, each uh youth gets a piece of candy as well as a Drew Lane gift certificate. And then as
each of the bingos are turned in, they get another another incentive prize, a small prize. But starting March 1, they can return their bingo cards for their grand prize. So anytime during the month of March, they can claim those. We've
got all of the prizes staged in the back and set up for everyone to come in and choose what they're interested in. Um, in the technology area,
we talked before in 2024 or early 2025 that there's a US Department of Justice final rule under title two of the ADA that requires state and local governments to meet certain accessibility standards by uh, April
26th of 2027. So, I'm doing the work of vetting web administrators who could provide us with um helping us meet those standards. Checking that we're meeting accessibility
standards and needs is something that the library does on a rotating basis, but we want to make sure that we're in particular aligned with the law. Um, as I've been speaking with some of the vendors, um, secondary things that are coming up is that the code in our
website is likely very outdated. It's not very, um, like I'm wondering if it doesn't quite meet current possibilities for responsiveness on devices. >> Responsive in any way? >> No, it is like the world's oldest website. And we also have uh many links
and pages that are broken and I've been trying to get support for those for some time. Um oftent times the person who's willing to work on the website wants to have it. They want to have the
full management of the website so that everything is in their control. the coding is fresh and up todate and it's simple for them to go in and apply changes that meet our expectations and needs. Um, so a big part of the
conversation I've been having is that the vendors want to transport our website from our server to their hosting and they want to rebuild it. Um, which they believe would take four to six weeks on average.
I'm not looking to completely redesign, but it will change the look of the website as it's transitioned. And so that would let them get the coding updated. >> And so then you're going to have a hosting cost also, right? >> Mhm. >> Yep.
We do have a hosting cost right now, right? It's being hosted somewhere, but the cost is quite small. Have to check on what it is. And we were with so Patrick Knight who was with the city
has our website hosted in the same place that they did have the the city's website but we weren't able to get the level of responsiveness for actually maintaining the site. So we need the support.
>> So what's the city doing? >> H >> what's the city doing about their website? They just updated with Catalyst, I think, or um might not be Catalyst. There's a group that just updated the website. >> Okay. >> And they have their contact information
and can reach out. >> Cool. >> Yep. >> And then does AL is ALS have any suggestions or >> That's a good question. >> And maybe just hitting the other libraries websites and seeing what they're like could give
potential contacted um visit Cook County as well. I really like what they have. >> Um I've contacted Sweet Water >> Design and Sundue Technology, a group called Streamline, a group
called Sprout. Any other suggestions, questions? I will tell you there are huge immense variations in what people charge for hosting. >> So that's going to be something to keep an eye on. >> Yeah, it's true. I'm finding that as
well. Um, one outfit that I've talked to was in the $10,000 range and another was closer to $100 a month. >> Was that $10,000?
What? Per year or for? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, is there a Nash? I would think if it's a federal compliance, there could be a federal resource to
tap into. Maybe you didn't wish maybe not dollars, but >> well, I don't know. You know, the federal government has uh requirements on all ADA, how the door has to be, all
that stuff, and there's no resources that >> you have to find your own, and then they have to apply. >> I see. >> So, I think that's probably what this is, too. >> Okay. >> But I don't know. The current website
um helped me a lot. And uh I was looking for a newspaper from 1916 that hadn't been digitized. And I realized by looking at this website that it had been digitized was not indexed but it was digitized. So I could
download it the one uh paper that I wanted >> the first Sunday in 196 in March of 1916 and I had to read the whole paper to find what I wanted to. I found it. >> Cool. >> So it does it it works
>> even though it's outdated and has its problems. It works. A couple couple years before I had found that the French language newspaper that was published in Minneapolis was already digitized and already indexed. So I could find what I wanted in there, >> but it wasn't French. Well, of course it
was no problem. But the the Minneapolis paper came out with the same article except that they had the the coroner talk about it and they had interviewed him and he had a comment. So I could say to my second cousin, "See, you're all wrong. Look at this."
>> There was a French language paper in Minneapolis >> for many years. >> Really? >> Yes. When I when I got back from the army, the the Our Lady of Lord's church was still called the French Church and pastor >> came from Mont Real.
>> Uhhuh. >> They stopped doing that in the late around 1980. And my dad hated it when he was a little boy because he couldn't understand what was going on because they didn't want him to speak French. >> So anyway, you're going to be continuing
to find us some information on this and it's a work in progress. >> Yep. I'm going to come back with some quotes that talk about the options that are available, make a recommendation, and we'll go forward from there. I >> think this is a good timeline to be starting it now. So, you've got a
good >> Yeah. >> question. >> Have you have have any of the other um libraries in the Arrowhead been working on their websites and who might they recommend if they have?
>> You know me, I'm always sort of lazy. I find out what other people use other people's work. It's >> called Admire and Acquire. Admire and Acquire. >> Oh, I didn't know. lots of websites in town and I don't know
>> doesn't bore out um >> but there's there's probably >> federal requirements for public >> I don't know it'd be interesting to know if other >> other libraries both in the arrowhead and
>> especially but maybe even um bigger libraries like it in >> Duth or what You suggesting Boreal could make it. >> No, I I I'm thinking I They have They can host. I think >> they quit. >> That was That was a big deal for all of
us in town. >> They quit. There was a small group of a couple women who started a >> a small local hosting for a couple years that was really pretty good and very affordable. And then we were all just struggling when they decided, "No, I
don't think I can make any money this way." So, um, that's why, you know, now we were all kind of consistently with the same provider and >> everybody had to struggle to find something. So, that isn't an option. >> Okay. Anything else for Electra?
On to communications. We have the fund statements from the St. Paul Minnesota Foundation and Boreal Waters. Any questions on those? >> All right. There being nothing further, we are adjourned.
>> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you all. It's like 60° warmer than we were here last month. Today was warm, too. Tomorrow's really going to be warm. >> Every ski trail running.
I just heard it.