La Conner Library District board questions coverage of state audit

The monthly La Conner Rural Partial County Library District monthly board meeting Tuesday, May 21, proceeded pretty much like most small governmental district board meetings, from starting with approving the April meeting minutes to experiencing small glitches with new board management software used in the meeting.

The April inancial report included the library’s receiving $113,139 from Skagit County, its property tax allocation for the first half of 2024. The assessment rate is 0.32% .

Sarah Rabel, the library foundation director, was upbeat in announcing that Gail Bruce is joining her board. The Skagit Community Foundation gave funds toward a bathroom door that is power operated. Author Janet Yod’s reading with an overflow audience of 50 was the best attended event to date. The arts committee is planning the fall-winter art exhibit for the library.

Board member William Smith reported he contacted the Town of La Conner for the $5,000 it allocated to the library. He asked that town staff shovel snow from the front steps when clearing the sidewalk.

Library Director Jean Markert reported working with the school district to give every student a library card by next fall. The Summer Reads program will start soon. Her announcement that the Reptile Man will return for a kids’ program was greeted with laughter and applause.

The computer and internet policy is under review by the board.

When new business came up on the agenda, retired former board chair Jim Airy asked if the state auditor’s report had been discussed. He said he came to the meeting to answer questions board members might have and expressed concern that board meeting minutes could not be found by the auditors.

Turning to Weekly News Publisher Ken Stern, who reported the story May 15 and was reporting the board meeting, he asked about the article and the timeline with it and questioned the need to name the past two directors, both of whom the board had removed, finding it an unnecessary detail.

Board member Sarah Christensen asked why there were only two quotations and two other references from library personnel in the story.

Smith asked Stem if the library still had problems.

Stern responded that the timeline framed the story by contrasting the years of clean audits under librarian director Joy Neal to Markert’s tenure and her appointment from board president to director though she had no experience working in a library.

The audit report was 19 pages and Stern said he focused the story on its findings. He quoted library personnel to emphasize their commitment to following recommendations and to transparency.

Stern did not know if library problems remain. He doesn’t have access to information or documents, he said.

The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m., after 75 minutes.

The library district board meets the third Tuesday monthly. The next meeting is June 18.