01-19-2012 PLIBMReport on the Pioneerland Library System Board Meeting
January 19,2012 by Roger Vacek
1. Recognition meeting at 6:30 PM to honor retirements and years of service for PLS staff, board
members and librarians. Among the seven retirements were John Houlahan PLS director, Sharon Noerenberg
Winsted Head Librarian, Jeanette Stottrup Litchfield/Dassel'Grove City Head Librarian, Brenda Zins Head
Librarian Dawson, Anne Ellefson Dawson Staff and Rose Kiecker Cosmos Staff.
Also honored were retired Board Members Paul Setzepfandt (Renville), Diane Beck (Kandiyohi), Pam
Dille (Litchfield), Pat grown (Olivia), Barb Nelson (Benson). Also 10,20, 40 years staff service awards — See
attached page for names and library location.
2. PLS meeting ( 7 PM to 8:15 PM). The Agenda and Oct 20 Board Minutes were approved.
A. Officers: PLS Executive officers and Finance Committee members were elected for 2012. See list attached.
The Finance Committee members come from each county in PLS for representation of each County.
B. Financial: The Financial Revenue and Expenditure report of 2011 was approved. PLS expenses were 8 %
below budget of $4.358 million. Large savings due to 10 to 13 %lower automation services and
telecommunication expenses. Also lower PLS director costs helps after retirement of John Houlahan. The
current PLS director/consultant Mark Ranum is paid approx. $40,000 less than the former director. Mark R is
also director/consultant of Plum Creek Library System in addition to Pioneeriand; so he works half time in each
of the two systems. Detailed budgets are available.
PLS Budget for 2011 and 2012 (approved)
Revenues: Expenses: Grants and Legacy: Working Capital (3 mo.):
2011 $4.22 million $4.36 million $263,000 $ 1.09 million
2012 $4.12 million $4.19 million $211,000 $ 1.05 million
Hutchinson Budget for 2011 and 2012 (approved):
Revenues: Expenses: Working Capital Funds Working Capital (3 mo.):
2011 $250,243 $268,639 $140,604 $67,160
2012 $251,343 $280,025 $111,922 $70,006
New hires approved: Ortonville: Amy Anderson and Vickie Gulley
Benson: Sherry Peterson, Katrina Ebert and Kristi Wetzel
C. The Six month contract extension was approved to hire Mark Ranum as Interim Executive Director. Salary of
$4500 will be paid monthly and no more than $27,000 in the six months.
D. Committee appointments: All board members submitted forms to rank the committees they wish to serve.
I choose 4 committees: 1. Finance Council 2. Technical committee 3. Long range plan 4. Policy
E. Directors Report: Mark Ranum reported on the State Auditors Meeting and his desire to upgrade the IT
infrastructure so that PLS can Increase speeds and service on web servers and e-mail hosting. He proposed that
PLS could provide the service at a lower cost than outsourcing the hosting services.
F. Future Full Board Meeting Dates for the next six months: April 19 and June 21, 2012