Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island Public Library Board of Trustees met Jan. 21.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Meeting Facilitator: Jenni Swanson

Invitees: Deborah Freiburg, Nick Hammond, Jacki Nelson, Jo Noon, Aleatha Quarles, Dr. Yolanda Grandberry Pugh, Elizabeth Russell, Eudell Watts, III; Angela Campbell, Library Director; Kayla Steffen, Business & Facilities Director; Kathy Lelonek, Foundation Director; Lisa Lockheart, Publicity & Outreach Liaison.

I. Call to Order

II. Attendance

III. Public Comment

IV. Approval of minutes

∙ Board of Trustees – December 17, 2024

∙ Ad-hoc Technology Committee – January 9, 2025

V. Board Education – Waiting for more info from iLEAD; waiting for the new standards to be released.

VI. Correspondence

∙ Thank You from Clock, Inc.

VII. Committee Reports

A) Finance – Jenni Swanson

∙ *Motion to approve monthly bills for December in the amount of $110,775.97 (RC)

B) Art & Facilities – Jacki Nelson

∙ CDBG Bathroom Remodel - Updates

∙ Voting item under “New Business,” #4

C) Personnel & Policy – Debbie Freiburg

∙ HR waiting for documentation to verify deferred compensation decision. For transparency purposes, the item will be voted on again at the January meeting, with more specificity in the voting language.

D) Planning & Community Relations – Dr. Yolanda Grandberry Pugh

∙ The Strategic Plan has been professionally printed, and is now available.

∙ Angela will be presenting the new plan, along with the Library Annual Report, at the February 24th City Council Study Session.

∙ Lisa has created a concise, two-sided version of the plan for the public.

E) Technology Ad-hoc Committee – Nick Hammond

∙ Met on January 9 at 3pm.

∙ Committee recommendations for discussion:

o For 2025 – Increase internet speed to 1 gigabyte; IT will look into the best firewall/hardware for that speed, and make recommendations for purchase. They will install the hardware when it arrives.

o For 2026 – Look into grants/funding for an IT position. Potentially put this in the CY 2026 budget.

VIII. Foundation Updates – Kathy Lelonek

∙ Next Meeting: February 13, 2025 at 4:00pm at the Downtown Library.

IX. Administrator Reports

∙ Director’s Report

∙ Statistics

∙ Milan Blackhawk Area Public Library District

o Next Regular Meeting – January 23, 2025 at 4pm at the Southwest Branch

X. Unfinished Business

1. Art Curation Project – Updates

XI. New Business

1. *Motion to send three Youth Services staff members to the Illinois Library Association’s “Youth Services Institute,” from February 27-28 in Bloomington, Illinois.

2. *Discussion and motion to approve the CY2026 statement of fund requirements for the annual 4-10 report.

3. *Motion to approve the 3-year contract agreement with United Auto Workers, Local 2282. (RC)

4. *Motion to approve using up to $156,950 of assigned-reserve funds to complete the first-floor restroom renovations. (RC)

5. *Motion to approve contributing an amount equal to 5% of the Library Director’s annual salary to a deferred compensation plan (457b), aligning the Library Director’s total compensation package with other city department heads. (RC)

6. Appoint Board nominating committee.

XII. Information Sharing

∙ Board Contact Info & Terms

∙ Board Standing Committees

∙ Unique Management Reports

XIII. Executive Sessions –

*Motion to enter closed session, per 5 ILCS 120/2(c) Exception 2, Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedule for one or more classes of employees. Voting item #3 under “New Business” will happen in open session. (RC)

XIV. Announcements

∙ Next Board Meeting – February 18, 2025 at 5pm, Downtown Library

∙ The State of the City Address – January

XV. Adjournment

*Represents a potential voting item

https://www.rigov.org/301/Agenda-Minutes