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[EBR Library Board of Control on July17, 2025.]
GOOD EVENING.WELCOME TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL MEETING OF JULY 17TH, 2025.
CAN YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE BUSINESS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
YOU'LL LET THE RECORD REFLECT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 18TH, 2025.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED.
THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIAL ORDERS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR, THE FINANCIAL REPORT, THE FINANCIAL REPORT WILL BE READ BY MS. RHONDA PENANT.
THE FOR 2025 OPERATING EXPENDITURES THROUGH JUNE 30TH ARE 22,000,300, 20,000.
$20, AND 42 CENTS ARE 40.57% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THROUGH JUNE.
WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT NO MORE THAN 50% OF THE BUDGET CASH COLLECTIONS FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR 2025 REMAIN AHEAD OF THOSE COLLECTED IN 2024 AS WE ARE APPROXIMATELY $2.9 MILLION AND 5.41% AHEAD OF THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS? THANK YOU, RHONDA.
MOVING ON TO A SYSTEM REPORTS.
SYSTEM REPORTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARY STEIN.
YOU'VE SEEN LOTS OF THINGS SCATTERED ON THE TABLE.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET PAIGE DOWN TO WORK.
A LOT GOING ON BECAUSE SUMMER IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST TIME.
IT'S, IT'S NOT THE ONLY BUSY TIME, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST, OBVIOUSLY BUSY TIME.
UH, I MUST SAY, UH, JULY JUST REALLY GOT OFF WITH A FABULOUS BANG WITH A BATON ROUGE CONCERT BAND OUTSIDE.
I WOULD ESTIMATE MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE WERE HERE FANNING THEMSELVES.
IT WAS NOT OVERWHELMINGLY HOT.
WE WAITED UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK FOR THAT CONCERT.
BY THE TIME THE CONCERT WAS OVER, YOU COULD SEE THE FIREWORKS FROM THE RIVER AND THE FIREWORKS FROM OFFSHORE WOOD FOREST.
NOW, ONE POINT OUT, WE HAD A SPECIAL GUEST IN THE PERCUSSION SECTION.
CAN YOU SEE HIM RIGHT THERE? CAPTAIN AMERICA JOINED US AND PLAYED THE SYMBOLS.
THE CONCERT BAND DID NOT REALIZE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN, SERENDIPITOUS, KIND OF EVENING.
UM, LOTS OF PEOPLE AT MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS HAPPENING.
WHEN THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES PLANNED AN EVENT HERE, WE HAD PRETTY MUCH 600 PEOPLE.
THEY HAD TO CUT IT OFF AT TWO O'CLOCK.
THEY WERE HERE AT SEVEN OR EIGHT IN THE MORNING, LINED UP THE STAFF.
UH, NO ONE WAS EXPECTING THAT MANY PEOPLE, UH, IN FACT, THEY WERE NOT EXPECTING THAT MANY PEOPLE.
THEY WERE EXPECTING TO USE THEIR VAN AND JUST HAVE IT PARKED BY THE PLAZA.
SO WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE WAITING, WE KNEW THAT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK.
THEY WERE WAITING IN THE HALLS IN THE LOBBIES.
WE BROUGHT THEM EXTRA CHAIRS TO SIT IN WHILE THEY WERE IN THE, IN THE HALL, IN THE LOBBIES.
AND, UM, THEY, UH, THE REFERENCE STAFF, UH, POPPED DOWN.
OUR OUTREACH STAFF POPPED DOWN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WERE OKAY, NOT OVERCOME OR OVERWHELMED.
SO IT WAS REALLY A, A A, IT, IT TURNED WHAT COULD HAVE
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BEEN AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE INTO A MANAGEABLE EXPERIENCE.I WANNA ALSO SHOW YOU SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, UH, OUT OF THIS ROOM.
YOU MAY RECALL FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HOSTED A TAI CHI CLASS FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE PARISH AND OF, OF THE GROUP.
THEY HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER SUCH THAT THEY COMPETED ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE AND BROUGHT HOME THE TROPHY, WHICH IS EVEN AS WE SPEAK UPSTAIRS IN THE BATON ROUGE ROOM, BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT TROPHY NEEDED TO STAY AT THE LIBRARY.
'CAUSE WITHOUT THE LIBRARY, THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE FORMED THEIR GROUP.
THIS WAS THE WOMEN'S GROUP'S SWORD EVENT.
AND, UM, I WAS EXCITED TO RECEIVE THAT TROPHY FROM THEM AND PLACE IT IN THE BATON ROUGE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
THAT'S, UH, THIS IS A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN FEATURED IN LIBRARIES, CHANGED LIVES BEFORE.
IT'S A GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME TOGETHER AT THE LIBRARY AND HAVE DONE SOMETHING WONDERFUL.
MARY, WHERE DID THE, UH, CHAMPIONSHIP TAKE PLACE? IT WAS OUT OF STATE.
UM, SO, UM, AS YOU REMEMBER, AND AS YOU, UH, CAN SEE IN THE NEWSLETTER, OUR THEME FOR THE SUMMER IS STILL, UM, COLOR OUR WORLD.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING SO MANY WONDERFUL ART PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES.
UH, WE WILL BE DOING OUR KINDNESS ROCKS.
WE'VE STARTED THOSE AT VARIOUS BRANCHES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HOPING YOU, YOU CAN WRITE SOMETHING, YOU CAN LEAVE IT, SOMEONE FINDS IT ON A WEBSITE, OR YOU USE THEM AT YOUR HOME OR YOUR CLUBHOUSE OR YOUR CHURCH OR WHEREVER.
UM, WE HOPE TO COLLECT ENOUGH TO PUT THEM AROUND VIRGIL, THE OAK TREE AT SOUTH, SO THAT WE CAN USE THE KINDNESS ROCKS TO HELP PROTECT, BASICALLY DEMARK THE AREA WHERE WE SHOULDN'T BE WALKING ON VIRGIL'S ROOTS, BECAUSE OUR ARBORISTS ARE VERY CLEAR ON THAT, THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT VIRGIL'S ROOTS.
BUT, UM, I LOVE SEEING, UM, THE KIDS, BUT I ALSO LOVE SEEING THE TEENS AND THE ADULTS PARTICIPATE.
KINDNESS ROCKS WILL BE DOING ALL OVER.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOING BOB ROSS, HAPPY LITTLE TREES, HAPPY LITTLE CLOUDS, UM, UH, LOT OF WONDERFUL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE OUR WORLD.
AND OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, SOME OF OUR SUMMER, UH, STANDOUTS, FARMER, MINER AND DAISY, THE READING PIG, THEY'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES.
THEY'VE BEEN WITH ALL CHILDREN.
THERE I AM WITH A, THEY CALL IT A NECKLACE.
UM, I WAS DRESSED FOR LSU THOUGH I HAD ON A PURPLE TOP AND I WAS WEARING A GOLDEN WHITE SNAKE.
OKAY? THE CHILDREN REALLY LIKE THAT.
THEY LIKE IT WHEN THE ADULTS TOUCH THE, THE REPTILES.
SO, UH, THE, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS PURPOSE.
AND WE'LL BE GETTING SNAKE ID TO COME AND, UH, VISIT WITH OUR GARDEN DISCOVERY SERIES FOR ADULTS TOO, BECAUSE, UH, THERE ARE MANY HELPFUL SNAKES AND THEN THERE ARE MANY SNAKES THAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO STAY FAR AWAY FROM.
AND I DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE, AND I DON'T REALLY WANNA BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
BUT FOR ALL THE REST OF YOU WHO GO OUTSIDE, I WANT YOU TO BE SAFE.
SO THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF SNAKE ID.
MARY DID THE, DO THEY HAVE, UM, I KNOW FOR PLANTS, THEY HAVE A PLANT ID APP THAT YOU CAN PUT ON A LEAF TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT POISON IVY, POISON SUMAC, POISON, POISON, THEY HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR.
AND, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE HERPETOLOGISTS SHARE AT THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS TO THE GROWNUPS.
BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD SHARE WITH GARDEN DISCOVERIES AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, THE REFERENCE DESK CAN HELP YOU.
THEY CAN HOOK YOU UP WITH THAT.
UM, AGAIN, I HOPE TO NOT BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO NEED TO SCAN THAT SNAKE ON MY APP.
UM, JUST AGAIN, LOOK AT THE SUMMERTIME FUN.
UM, THE KIDS HAVE BEEN MOVING.
THEY'VE BEEN LISTENING TO STORIES.
THEY'VE BEEN MAKING STORIES OF THEIR OWN.
OUR TEENS ARE GETTING IN ON THE ACTION AS THEY ALWAYS DO.
WE HAD POETS OVER AT BLUE BONNET.
UH, WE HAD THE TEENS COME TO THE FILMMAKER FORUM, YOU MIGHT RECALL.
THEY'VE BEEN MAKING THEIR OWN FILMS, UH, AT VARIOUS CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEMS. AND THEY WILL PREMIERE THEIR FILMS AT THE END OF JULY.
BUT THIS WAS A CHANCE FOR ADULTS AND TEENS TO SEE WHAT'S WHAT WITH THE MOVIE INDUSTRY.
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IS KIND OF A PRELUDE TO BRU, THE BATON ROUGE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL.AND THAT IS ALSO RUNNING UP FOR SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALREADY HINTED TO Y'ALL ABOUT, WHICH IS OUR MAKER FAIR.
UM, SOMETHING ELSE, WE HOSTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEST LAST WEEK, AND SOMETHING NEW FOR THEM WAS THE KIDS MARKET, THE, THE CHILDREN'S ENTREPRENEUR MARKET.
AND SO WE HAD WONDERFUL KID ENTREPRENEURS HERE, AND, UM, IT WAS REALLY LOVELY TO SEE.
THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER.
UH, THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST TO, TO REALLY GET THOSE BUSINESS SKILLS INGRAINED.
UH, YOU DON'T JUST MAKE SOMETHING AND IT ALL FALLS INTO PLACE.
YOU HAVE TO DO SERIOUS WORK TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS WORK.
SO THE PARENTS WERE THERE AND THE PARENTS WERE RESPECTFUL OF THE CHILDREN AND THEIR EFFORTS.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEST ITSELF WITH FABULOUS MUSIC, UM, ALL DAY.
THEY'RE ALREADY ASKING ME FOR A DATE FOR 2026.
THE CAREER CENTER WITH THE TEENS FINISHED OUT ITS COOL CAREERS.
UM, AGAIN, REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE HOW SCIENCE INTEGRATES INTO A FUTURE.
NOW, THE NEW SERIES THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST MONTH, WE KICKED THAT OFF, UM, GOSH, A WEEK OR TWO AGO WITH THE MARKETING STARTER KIT.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU HIRE AN AGENCY.
WE HAD FABULOUS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FROM A NUMBER OF LOCAL MARKETING FIRMS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.
IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, YOU COULD HAVE EARNED AS A DOOR PRIZE CONSULTING TIME WITH SOME OF THESE MARKETERS.
THEY COULD HAVE AUDITED YOUR WEBSITE OR LOOKED AT YOUR NEWSLETTER OR LOOKED AT YOUR WHOLE MARKETING PLAN.
UH, SO IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO GET, UM, THE VALUE OF THOSE CONSULTATIONS WAS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO WE HOPE TO DO SOMETHING EQUALLY WONDERFUL WHEN WE, UH, REVEAL BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN IN AUGUST.
SO WE'RE PLANNING THE ITINERARY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
OF COURSE, THIS IS FREE, JUST LIKE ALWAYS.
AND, UH, PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS ALLIANCE, WE ALSO HOSTED THE EXONERATION PROGRAM.
I HAD TO GET EXTRA CHAIRS, EXTRA CHAIRS, AND THEN I RAN OUT OF CHAIRS IN THIS ROOM.
UH, WE HAD, UH, PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR BELL, UH, FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER, UH, PULLED TOGETHER A PANEL, UH, SOME OF THE MEN WHO ARE FEATURED IN THE INNOCENCE PROJECT.
AND, UH, THEY CAME UP FROM NEW ORLEANS OR WHEREVER THEY WERE.
AND, UH, SHE LED THE DISCUSSION, A VERY SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR PROCESS, UH, THROUGH BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INNOCENCE PROJECT GOT, UH, THEIR INNOCENCE SECURED FOR THEM, AND THEY WERE EXONERATED.
UH, PEOPLE DROVE IN FROM OUT OF STATE FOR THIS PROGRAM AND HAVE ALREADY ASKED WHEN, WHEN'S, WHEN'S THE NEXT THING.
AND SO PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES ARE TRYING TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, UH, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
IT WAS HANDLED WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY, AND, UH, IT WAS VERY ILLUMINATING, VERY IMPACTFUL.
GENEALOGY IN THE SUMMER, PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR A FREE SYMPOSIUM.
AND THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT DATABASES AND THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER, BECAUSE THAT'S SO NEW TO PEOPLE.
BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO GO OLD SCHOOL, BACK TO PAPER, UH, UNCOVERING THE PAPER TRAIL TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR ANCESTORS IN NON-DIGITAL RECORDS, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING'S BEEN DIGITIZED.
WE'RE ALWAYS FINDING NEW LETTERS, NEW DIARIES, NEW MAPS.
SOMETHING NEW MAY BE OUT THERE.
AND THE DIGITAL RECORD MAY, MAY BE IN A SILO SOMEWHERE.
SO, UM, ARCHIVISTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE WILL BE HERE, AND WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU AT THE END OF JULY.
WE'RE STILL PROMOTING OF THE SUMMER LEGACY FOR YOUR LEGACY LETTER TO HELP YOU WRITE THAT IMPORTANT LETTER TO YOUR SON, YOUR FATHER, YOUR MENTOR, SOMEONE, UM, WHO YOU'VE LOST TOUCH WITH, OR SOMEONE YOU JUST WANNA TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL, UH, BEFORE, BEFORE YOU, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
YEAH, I WAS STILL ON GENEALOGY, THE MM-HMM
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JOSEPH, UH, UH, THE CEMETERY BOARD.
AND, UH, WHEN WE DID THE HISTORY OF, OF MUCH OF THE, THE CEMETERY AND, YOU KNOW, PRESERVING THE CEMETERY AND WHO'S BURIED THERE, UM, THE BATON ROUGE ROOM, THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS AND THE GENEALOGY PEOPLE WERE SO EXTREMELY HELPFUL THAT IT GAVE US ENOUGH INFORMATION WHERE WE COULD PUT, UM, HIGHLIGHTS ON DIFFERENT, UH, CARDS OF, OF, UH, YOU KNOW, OF THE PEOPLE BURIED AT THE, AT THE CEMETERY.
AND IT'LL PROBABLY BE AN ONGOING PROJECT, BUT, UM, IT WAS, UM, THEY WERE SO HELPFUL AND WE LEARNED SO MUCH, UH, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE HISTORY OF THE ST.
AND THE ONE THING TO REMEMBER THERE IS JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE RESEARCHED IT ONE YEAR, COME BACK THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE NEW RESOURCES, OR WE'LL KNOW ABOUT A NEW TOOL THAT WE CAN USE.
THERE'LL BE A NEW WAY TO RESEARCH THINGS, SO THAT IS A GIFT THAT WE'LL KEEP ON GIVING.
SO, UM, THE, WE ALWAYS SAY THE NUMBER ONE RESOURCE FOR YOUR GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY RESEARCH IS THE STAFF.
WELL, OUR, THAT, WE WILL, UH, I THINK, UH, THE RESTORER IS COMING AND, UH, THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO HELP RESTORE SOME OF THE, THE GRAVES IS COMING AND I THINK SHE WILL BE, UH, AT THE LIBRARY, UH, IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO PARTNER WITH A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE PRESERVING OUR VETERANS HISTORIES.
WELL DATING BACK TO THE, THE HISTORIC FLOOD.
AND WHEN, UH, WE WERE RESTORING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS, UM, RIGHT IN THIS ROOM, THE PROJECT WAS GOING ON TO HELP PEOPLE RECOVER THOSE PRECIOUS MEMORIES.
SO, UH, A LOT OF, A LOT OF SERIOUS FAMILY CONNECTIONS GOING ON THIS SUMMER AS WELL.
THE VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALK SERIES IS FOCUSED ON KIDS AUTHORS, ESPECIALLY OUR FAVORITE CATHERINE APPLEGATE.
UM, SO REMEMBER, THOSE ARE ALL ARCHIVED AND YOU CAN ALWAYS, UH, GET ONLINE AND VISIT WITH THAT.
REMEMBER I SAID FILMS ARE IT SAVE THE DATE FOR THE MAKER FAIR.
THE CALL FOR MAKER IS OUT, AND, UH, THEY'RE HAVING A MAKE HER MEET UP.
AND THE COMPANION, UH, ANIMAL ALLIANCE IS PART OF THIS SOMEHOW MAGICALLY, UH, 'CAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AT THE LIBRARY.
WE FEATURED TONY XANDERS TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, AND OUR PREVIOUS ONE WAS WITH OUR MARY BIRD PERKINS, COO.
UH, AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE ARE ARCHIVED, UH, AND IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM HEAR FROM OUR LOCAL LEADERS.
OUR LOCAL LIBRARIES CHANGED LIVES, FEATURES, UH, ONE OF THE LADIES AT BAKER LIBRARY, UH, POWER READER CLARA CHAMBERS.
SO I INVITE YOU TO CHECK THAT OUT IN YOUR NEWSLETTER AND AT YOUR DESKS AND AT THE DESK, UH, AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ROOM.
I HAVE INVITATIONS FOR ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 10TH AS WE DEDICATE THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY.
AND, UH, I'VE JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE, I'VE THROWN IN THE SAVE THE DATE FOR THE LOUISIANA ZINE FEST COMING UP.
UH, LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
UH, THAT IS A ENORMOUS FESTIVAL FEATURING PROBABLY OVER 200 AUTHORS.
IT WILL TAKE PLACE DOWNTOWN IN FRONT OF THE STATE CAPITOL, IN THE STATE CAPITOL, IN THE STATE MUSEUM, IN THE STATE LIBRARY, AND IN THE STREET.
AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY, OTHER THAN TO SAY I'VE POSTED ONLINE ON THE WEBSITE, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THE THRIVE CAMPAIGN AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE INFORMATION ABOUT THE THRIVE CAMPAIGN AND THAT YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE OF AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES.
AND THE NEW FLYERS FOR THE UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN ARE ALSO POSTED AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO HAVE AND SHARE.
SO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
NOW, OTHER THAN THE SOUTH BRANCH HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
AND, UM, AND I COULDN'T FIND A PARKING PLACE
UM, AND THE, THE, THE SOUTH SIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND, UH, WE'RE SO DELIGHTED TO HAVE, UM,
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YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY IN, UM, IN OUR AREA AND, UH, I'M SURE THE SURROUNDING SUBDIVISIONS ARE TOO.IT'S A HAPPY PROBLEM TO HAVE TO NEED TO SEND THEM MORE BOOKS BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH 'EM SO FAST.
I DID WANNA MAKE A COMMENT TODAY, JUST GIVE AN UPDATE ON THRIVE.
SO TODAY, UM, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOND COMMISSION TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE BALLOT.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT OKAY, RIGHT.
MILESTONE IF YOU, MAYBE Y'ALL KNEW, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T, BUT IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE PROCESS.
YEAH, IT IS A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
SO MANY MOVING PARTS, WE ARE JUST THE SMALLEST PART IN THAT PROCESS AND, UH, IT'S VERY PRESCRIBED.
AND SO, UH, WITH THE METRO COUNCIL'S HELP AND THE BOND ATTORNEY'S HELP AND THE MAYOR OFFICE MAYOR'S OFFICE HELP, UH, THAT'S HOW THIS PROCESS IS PLAYING OUT.
SO, UH, A LOT MORE IN STORE THERE.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OTHER REPORTS, MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THESE REPORTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OKAY, SO FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, UM, THE MAINTENANCE REPORT IS AS FOLLOWS, DUE TO WEATHER DELAYS, BLUEBONNET REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARIES, THE ONLY LOCATION REMAINING TO HAVE CURBS PAINTED WHILE REFURBISHING AIR HANDLER UNITS AT THE GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AIR HANDLER UNIT NUMBER SIX WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT FACILITY.
STAFF ARE WORKING ON ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THAT.
UM, A VENDOR MADE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO A FAULTY WATER FLOW SENSOR ON THE, AT THE DELMARK GARDENS BRANCH, THE FAULTY SENSOR THAT'S NECESSITATED TWO PARTIAL DAYS OF CLOSURE ON JULY 6TH AND SEVENTH.
UH, LIBRARY STAFF ALSO MET WITH THE LANDSCAPING VENDOR AND APPROVED A QUOTE FROM MULCHING AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
THE WORK INCLUDES PENDING DOWN THE SOAKER HOSES AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WORK TO BEGIN SOON, UH, TO THE MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE OUTREACH MULTI-BRANCH AND ROOFING PROJECT.
THERE'S CURRENTLY NOTHING NEW TO REPORT, UH, FOR THE BOILERS IN EDEN PARK AND GREENWOOD SPRINGS.
THE PROJECT IS NOW EXPECTED TO GO OFF A BID IN LATE AUGUST FOR THE BLUE BONNET BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.
THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PATIO TILE AND THE PRESSURE WASHING OF THE PATIO BEGAN THIS WEEK.
THE PROJECT MAY NOT BE COMPLETE FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO.
UH, LIBRARY STAFF ALSO PLAN TO MEET WITH A VENDOR TO DISCUSS REPLACING THE PATIO FURNITURE AND LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION IS STILL DISCUSSING FURTHER RENOVATIONS TO THE BRANCH FOR THE CHILLER PROJECT.
THE CONTRACTOR CONTINUES TO WORK ON ADDRESSING THE FINAL PUNCH LIST AND FOR THE BAKER BRANCH RENOVATION, UH, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS HAS INTRODUCED A NEW RESOLUTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND AND UPDATE THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SELECTION COMMITTEE.
AFTER THE COMMITTEE IS FORMED, THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION CAN BE RELEASED TO SELECT AN ARCHITECT FOR THE PROJECT.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THE PATIO AND BLUE.
THAT'S BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, MAKING SOME HEADWAY ON THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE UP ANNOUNCING IT'S COMING SOON, UM, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET IT ON THE NEXT, UH, COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT MADE IT OR NOT.
UH, LAURIE, ANY, UM, LEAKING OR ANYTHING WITH THE WATER AND THE WEATHER, OR DO YOU, UM, ARE THERE AREAS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO START LOOKING AT, UH, THAT MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE LEAKS? UH, IF THE WEATHER, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY BAD WITH THE WATER, WE HAVE HAD SOME LEAKS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALREADY DUE TO THE WEATHER.
ARE YOU ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM RIGHT AWAY? WE ARE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF THE AREAS AND ADDRESS THEM AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE, UM, CAN ADDRESS THEM.
UM, WE'RE PUTTING BLOWERS OUT TO TRY TO DRIVE THE AREAS AND COVER THINGS THAT'S NECESSARY, AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT.
WHAT ABOUT AT SCOTLANDVILLE WITH THE, DIDN'T YOU HAVE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT, WAS IT AT SCOTLANDVILLE OR WHERE THE WATER WAS LEAKING IN OR WAS THAT, OH, THAT WAS AT BLUE BONNET, I THINK.
IS IT STILL A PROBLEM? YES, AT BLUE BONNET.
YOU ANTICIPATE WHEN IT'LL GET FIXED? WE DON'T
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HAVE A DATE YET.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOVING ON TO MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS.
MS. KATRINA STOKES, GOOD EVENING.
FIRST, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT, UH, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE SENATOR CASSIDY TO THE, UH, DEDICATION CEREMONY AT OUR NEW SOUTH BRANCH.
WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO HIS OFFICE VERY SOON TO CHECK FOR HIS AVAILABILITY.
JUST RECENTLY, WE RECEIVED A, UH, NICE REBATE FROM THE E-RATE PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $200,900.
UM, VERY HAPPY TO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING.
WE RECENTLY MET WITH PARTNERS FOR THE HOWELL PARK INSPIRATION CENTER.
THIS WAS A COMMUNITY POLICING INIT COOPERATIVE.
THE LIBRARY WILL BE PROVIDING A DEPOSIT COLLECTION, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD.
LAST EVENING, MARY AND I, UH, ATTENDED THE PLAN BR THREE, UH, AT THE OLD STATE CAPITAL MUSEUM.
UH, WE WILL SOON BE PUSHING OUT THE SURVEY THAT, UH, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED IN ORDER TO HELP THEM COLLECT INFORMATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO HELP DEVELOP THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AREA.
WE ARE ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WELL, PREVENTION OF
THIS WAS STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
HE APPROACHED US ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR STAFF PROVIDING, UH, A SPACE FOR INDIVIDUALS FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO COME AND BE ABLE TO FILE A PETITION WITH THE COURT IN ORDER TO GET A PROTECTIVE ORDER AND TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARING THE TRAINING LAUNCH FOR OUR STAFF, AND WE, UH, JUDGE JOHNSON IS HOPING THAT WE CAN ANNOUNCE THIS COOPERATIVE IN AUGUST.
WE HAVE BOTH THE BINDER AND THE INVOICE FOR THE DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE POLICY.
RHONDA HAS SENT IT FOR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY.
AND FINALLY, UH, OUR STRATEGIC, OUR UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN IS BACK FROM THE PRINTER, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS, THIS NEW INFORMATION IN YOUR INFORMATION PACKETS.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANYTHING I HAVE JUST SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY? ALL RIGHT.
OH, ASIDE FROM ONE OTHER THING, UH, THE CON, UH, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA WAS, UM, UH, QUITE A SUCCESS.
UH, I NOTICED SEVERAL OF THE STAFF, UH, ENJOYED THE PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY ATTENDED.
I'M GOING TO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THEIR FEEDBACK.
I JUST HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DO SO YET HEARD VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM VENDORS AND THEIR PRODUCTS THAT COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE LIBRARY AND HELP US PUSH OUR SERVICES OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO OVER THOSE AND TALK ABOUT THOSE WITH THE STAFF AND, UH, NOT HAD A CHANCE YET TO EVEN SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD FIT INTO OUR BUDGET JUST YET.
SO WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT VERY SOON.
MOVING ON, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPDATE ON THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY.
MR. OKAY, SO THIS IS GONNA BE VERY SHORT AND SWEET.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST UPDATE FOR THE SOUTH BRANCH AS UNFINISHED BUSINESS SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION IS NOW COMPLETE.
AND AS A REMINDER, AS MARY PRESENTED TO YOU EARLIER, THE DEDICATION CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 10TH AT 3:00 PM AND FORMER INVITATIONS WILL BE GOING OUT THIS MONTH.
IN ADDITION, MS. CHELSEA NORRIS, GALLERY DIRECTOR FOR ANNE CONNOLLY, FINE ART INSTALLED, INSTALLED A DONATED PAINTING FROM LOCAL ARTISTS, MR. ED PRIMA ON JUNE 23RD.
UM, AND I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE IMAGES FROM THAT DEDICATION.
SO THIS IS, UH, IMAGE THAT SHOWS SOUTH BRANCH MANAGER PATRICK ABBOTT AND LOCAL ARTISTS, MR. ED CROMACK ON JUNE 23RD, UH, FOR THE ART INSTALLATION AT
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THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY.UH, WE WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT IT WAS A VERY HEARTWARMING GATHERING AS MR. PRIMACK THANKED US FOR GIVING HIS PAINTING A PERMANENT HOME.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, ED PRIMACK IS A, UM, ONE MY NEIGHBORS.
HE'S, UM, A LONG RETIRED, UM, ART PROFESSOR, UH, AT LSU.
AND WHEN HE WENT TO THE SOUTH BRANCH, HE WAS SO MOVED BY THE, THE WAY THAT THE OAK TREE, UH, WAS, UH, PROTECTED AND KEPT AS A, A A, IN THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, KEPT AS A, AS A CENTERPIECE IN THE DESIGN.
UM, THAT, UM, HE HAD, UM, HIS DONATED, UM, THAT PICTURE, HE SAID IT WAS, UM, HIS OAK TREE HAD FALLEN AND HE WAS SO, UH, SAD.
I MEAN, WHEN LIGHTNING HAD STRUCK HIS TREE.
BUT HE SAID HE TRIED TO PUT IN SOME POINTS OF, UM, OF, OF BEING POSITIVE AND FORTHCOMING, UH, UH, AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN, IN THE PAINTING THAT, UH, THAT HE, UM, GAVE TO THE LIBRARY.
SO IT WAS, UM, IT, IT WAS VERY MOVING.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR DOING THAT.
WE WERE THRILLED TO DO THAT FOR HIM.
AND YEAH, YOU COULD TELL HE WAS VERY EMOTIONAL THAT DAY WHEN HE SPOKE TO US.
WELL, YEAH, IT'S, UM, THANK YOU.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE SOFT BRANCH? I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. ED M**K FOR HIS GENEROUS DONATION, TRYING TO HELP MAKE OUR NEW BRANCH EVEN BETTER.
NEXT UPDATE ON THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY.
SO FOR THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, PHASE TWO UPDATE, UM, DEMOLITION, DEMOLITION WORK IS ONGOING.
THE NORTH COURTYARD PREP WORK IS ONGOING.
UH, METAL CONDUIT IS BEING INSTALLED IN THE FLOOR, TRENCHES AND OVERHEADS.
WHEN THE FLOOR BOXES ARE BEING FINALIZED NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL BEGIN TO FRAME UP THE WALLS AND POUR CONCRETE FOR EXPANSION AREAS.
UH, THEY'VE STARTED ON ELECTRICAL WORK AND RUNNING LINES.
THE CONTRACTOR REPORTED THAT THE STEEL NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERED THIS MONTH, BUT IT'S DELAYED UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST.
UH, AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE AROSE WITH THE BRICK VENEER OF THE BUILDING, AN ARCHITECT AND THE CONTRACTOR WILL NEED INPUT FROM THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? YEAH, UM, THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE THAT AROSE WITH THE BRICK VENEER OF THE BUILDING AS THEY WERE DOING THE DEMO WORK.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET INPUT FROM A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER MOVING FORWARD.
THE CONTRACTOR EXPECTS TO BEGIN THE NECESSARY WORK TO CREATE THE NEW PATRON ENTRANCE AND EXIT FROM SCENIC HIGHWAY NEXT WEEK.
AND, UH, THEY EXPECT THE PROCESS TO TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS STAFF AND PATRONS WILL CONTINUE TO USE MINGLE ROAD TO ACCESS THE BRANCH FOR THE TIME BEING.
ANY QUESTIONS MS. LORI? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL GET OR RECEIVE SOME UPDATES AS, AS REPAIRS ARE MADE AND IMPLEMENTED? I'M SORRY, AS REPAIRS ARE MADE? MM-HMM
CAN WE GET SOME UPDATES JUST TO WHAT'S BEING DONE AND HOW? OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU WANT ME ADDED THEM TO THE
AND THERE ARE IMAGES AND, UH, THE REPORTS FOR SCOTLANDVILLE ON THE WEBSITE.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, NEW BUSINESS, THE APPROVAL OF THE 2026 LIBRARY BUDGET PROPOSAL.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET PROPOSAL? ALRIGHT, EACH PERSON WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS LEWIS RICHARDSON AND I LIVE IN THE CITY OF ST.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
SINCE YOUR AGENDA INCLUDES THE BUDGET, I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT THE BUDGET REPRESENTS.
A BUDGET IS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL DOCUMENT.
IT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES AND VALUES OF AN INSTITUTION.
AND TODAY, MANY OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE ASKING, WHAT KIND OF CULTURE IS THIS BUDGET PROMOTING AND FUNDING? LAST WEEK, LUKE ASH, A FATEFUL EMPLOYEE AND PASTOR OF THIS PARISH, WAS FIRED FOR REFUSING TO USE PRONOUNS THAT CONFLICT WITH HIS CHRISTIAN CONVICTIONS.
HE DID NOT MISTREAT OR DISRESPECT ANYONE.
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COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SPEAK IN A WAY THAT VIOLATES HIS FAITH.PUBLIC DOLLARS DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE BUDGET.
PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULD NOT FUND IDEOLOGICAL COERCION OR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.
THE FIRING OF PASTOR ASH WAS NOT JUST AN NECESSARY, YOU'RE GOING BACK TO, TO A HR ISSUE.
PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULD NOT, OKAY, THAT'S, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SIT DOWN IDEOLOGICAL COERCION TODAY AT 4 0 5, I EMAILED EACH OF YOU, SIR, A LETTER CONCERN.
YOU NEED TO GET SECURITY FOR YOU CONCERN ISSUE REQUESTING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT, THAT YOU FOLLOWING THE MEETING LAWS STATE PASTOR ASH AND THAT THE LIBRARY'S INTERNAL POLICIES BE REVISED.
TO PROTECT, NOT PUNISH EMPLOYEES LIVING, YOU NEED TO HAVE A SEAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
SIR, YOU NEED TO HAVE A SEAT, SIR.
YOU HAVE TO STAY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, WHICH THAT'S NOT JERMAINE, TO THE TOPIC.
WE EXPECT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, WE EXPECT YOU TO STAGE JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR, INCLUDING THOSE WITH TRADITIONAL.
WE EXPECT YOU TO STAY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC.
IT'S AN HR ISSUE THAT WILL BE, THAT WILL BE DEALT WITH WITH HR AND CITY PARISH, WHICH IT HAS IF THE CURRENT BUDGET GERMANE TO THE TOPIC.
SIR? JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR.
SIR, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA RESPECT THE LEADERSHIP IN HERE, WE'RE NOT GONNA RESPECT YOUR COMMENT.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO HAVE A SEAT, JERMAINE, TO THE TOPIC.
SIR, IF THE CURRENT JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR, EXCLUDE JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR.
SERVICE, THEN THE BUDGET IS PART OF THE JER.
LISTEN, I LOVE JESUS WITH ALL MY HEART, BUT YOU GONNA STAY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR, WHO CALL EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL.
SIR, I LOVE JESUS WITH ALL MY HEART.
BUT YOU WILL STAY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC AT THIS POINT.
REJECT THE CREATOR, JERMAINE, TO THE TOPIC.
THE LIBRARY IS NOT, SIR, YOU HAVE TO STAY GERMANE TO THE TOPIC.
STAY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC, SIR.
I URGE YOU STAY JMA TO RELEVANT TO THE BUDGET.
I URGE YOU STAY GERMANE TO THE TOPIC, SIR.
I LOVE JESUS WITH ALL MY HEART AND THAT'S WHY I'M ELECTED TO SERVE HIS PEOPLE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY JMA TO THE TOPIC.
THIS IS A PERSONNEL ISSUE, NOT A BUDGET ISSUE.
ANY OTHER BUDGET COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, MOVING ON.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS BY THE BOARD REGARDING THE BUDGET PROPOSAL? UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UM, THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR, OUR BUDGET WHEN WE THE THE TAX, UM, UM, GOES FORTH AS THE BUDGET PROPOSAL GOES FORTH IN NOVEMBER, THAT THE, UM, THE LIBRARY HAS, UM, REDUCED ITS MILLAGE AND IT WILL BE, UM, AN 8.4 ESSENTIALLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT, IT'S THREE 8.8 0.3, I'M SORRY.
UM, AND THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET TO OPERATE, UM, AT A LOWER, UH, MILLAGE RATE AS, UH, REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE METRO COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE, UM, ADJUSTED, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR INCOME AND OUR PROGRAMS TO MEET WITH THE, UH, THE LOWER MILLAGE RATE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THE PARISH, UH, FUNCTION BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, UH, REALLOCATING, UH, THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SAVED UP.
WE ARE REALLOCATING THAT TO THE PARISH GOVERNMENT, UH, TO HELP, UH, IN A, IN THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
BUT WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A, A WONDERFUL, VIBRANT LIBRARY WITH, UM, ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS WE WILL HAVE SO THAT WE HAVE ADJUSTED THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN STILL OPERATE AS A WONDERFUL SYSTEM.
UM, AND WE THANK THE, THE PUBLIC FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE OF US DOING ALL THE DIFFICULT TIMES WHEN WE HAD TO, UM, REDO OUR, OUR BUDGET AND WHEN WE HAD TO ALLOCATE SOME OF OUR MONEY TO HELP OUT CITY PARISH TO, UM, TO GET ITS, YOU KNOW, TO ITS FINANCES IN ORDER TO THRIVE.
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE ALL WANT IS A PARISH THAT, THAT ACTUALLY, I MEAN, TO, TO DOES WELL.
AND THAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE, THE PEOPLE IN THE PARISH.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT THE, UM, AT THAT FOR OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.
AND IT WILL BE AT A A, A LOWER MILLAGE BECAUSE WE WILL REALLOCATE MONEY TO THE CITY
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PARISH TO HELP THEM FUNCTION.I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THAT WHEN IT COMES UP.
AND I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK JUST TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL FOR SUPPORTING AND BEING BY OUR SIDE AS WE WENT THROUGH THOSE TIMES, BUT WE MADE IT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY THE BOARD? DO I, DO I HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET? REQUESTED BUDGET? THAT WAS THE SECOND BY DARRYL.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE, IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS? HEARING NONE.