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[EBR Library Board of Control on November 20, 2025.]
TO THE EAST PARISH LIBRARY AND BOARD OF CONTROL.PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ONE? NATION.
NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
LIBERTY, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE DO NOT HAVE A AT THIS TIME.
MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO, WELL, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETINGS OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 16TH.
WE'VE GOT TWO MEMBERS THAT ARE ON THEIR WAY AND WE'RE STUCK, UH, WITH SOME THINGS AT THEIR, UH, JOBS.
UH, SO CAN WE MOVE THAT BACK TO THE END OF THE DOCKET? YOU, UH, WE'LL TAKE THAT VOTE THEN.
ONE MORE MIC THAT, IS THIS ONE WORKING? YES.
WE'LL MOVE THE APPROVAL PERMITTANCE UNDER NEW BUSINESS AFTER NEW BUSINESS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SOCIAL ORDERS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR.
THE REPORT WILL BE READ BY MS. TANYA ALLISON, ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER.
OPERATING EXPENDITURES THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST ARE AS FOLLOWS, $38,684,909 AND 30 CENTS, OR 70 POINT 32% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THROUGH OCTOBER.
WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT NO MORE THAN 83% OF THE BUDGET CASH COLLECTIONS FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR 2025 REMAIN AHEAD OF THOSE COLLECTED IN 2024 AS WE ARE APPROXIMATELY $2.6 MILLION AND 4.78% AHEAD OF THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
ACTUAL INCREASE OVER 2024 IS $2,683,256 AND 66 CENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
A SYSTEM REPORTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARY STEIN, AND IT WILL BE THE SHORTEST A SYSTEM REPORT YOU HAVE EVER HEARD FROM ME,
SO WHAT I DID NOT QUITE FRANKLY, HAVE TIME TO PUT INTO A PRETTY POWERPOINT FOR YOU WAS ALL THE FABULOUS THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN YOUR LIBRARY SYSTEM DURING THE MONTH, THE, THE LAST HALF OF OCTOBER.
SINCE LAST, WE MET A LITTLE SOMETHING CALLED THE MAKER FAIR, AND THERE'S PROBABLY A THOUSAND PICTURES ONLINE TO GO INTO SOME OF THAT.
WE HOSTED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, UH, SNEAK PEEK WITH LPB.
WE PLANTED A PROPAGATION GARDEN OUTSIDE.
BUT WE DO HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR YOU.
HERE'S SOME OF THE IMAGES FROM THE MAKER FAIR AS USUAL, OLD AND YOUNG, TALL AND SMALL ROBOTS MOVIES.
UH, WE HAD TALKIES, WALKIES, WE HAD FOLEY ARTISTS.
WE HAD STUNT PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING THAT WAS SO COOL.
UM, PEOPLE MADE THEIR OWN LITTLE MOVIE SHORTS.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, WE'VE ALREADY PLANNED THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR, AND IT WILL BE YO MAKETH FARTH.
WE ARE GONNA BE GOING BACK TO THE FAST.
THERE WILL BE TREBUCHETS AND CATAPULTS ON THE GROUNDS.
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UM, LIBRARIES CHANGED LIVES SINCE WE MIGHT NOT MEET IN DECEMBER.I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK OF THE NOVEMBER, UH, OR THE DECEMBER BECAUSE I HAVE THE DRAFT, UH, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
WONDERFUL OPTIONS TO SHOW YOU THE WAY THAT THE LIBRARY IS MAKING AN IMPACT IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THE NOVEMBER ARTICLE WAS ON SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE USE OF OUR CAREER CENTER AND THE DECEMBER ARTICLE TAKES US OUT AND ABOUT, UH, WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE SEED LIBRARY TO THAT WONDERFUL EVENT THAT WE DID OUTSIDE A FEW DAYS AGO, AND SO MUCH MORE.
SO I INVITE YOU TO STAY TUNED FOR YOUR DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE SOURCE.
UH, WE OF COURSE HAVE BEEN HAVING GREAT RESPONSE WITH OUR STRICTLY BUSINESS VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.
AND COMING UP IN DECEMBER WILL BE SUSAN BOURGEOIS.
UH, THE SMALL BUSINESS ENGINE SERIES WILL WRAP OUT THE YEAR WITH ROCK STARS, JULIO MALARA AND JULIE LAPUS AND ONE OTHER PERSON.
I CANNOT TELL YOU YET UNTIL WE INK THAT ONE, BUT IT, THESE HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT'S FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
UH, WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING FROM THOSE WHO KNOW, NOT JUST PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY.
I'M SO PLEASED WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS.
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S PAIRS NICELY WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS.
THURSDAY EVENINGS, KIND OF LIKE THE DOCTOR IS IN PROGRAMS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ALL, UH, SPINOFF FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR THAT WE STARTED SO MANY YEARS AGO.
VIRTUAL AUTHOR TALKS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
REALLY WONDERFUL OFFERINGS AS WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO DO ALL YEAR LONG.
ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF INTERESTS, ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE ARE THE NONFICTION AUTHORS.
SO THAT'S REALLY A COOL THING.
UH, ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, SATURDAY NIGHT WE PUT UP, UH, A LINK THAT, UH, SAID OUR THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US.
UH, WE PUT OUT THE NEWS THAT PROPOSITION NUMBER ONE DID NOT PASS.
THAT'S THE PROPOSITION THAT INCLUDED THE RENEWAL OF THE LIBRARY'S TENURE, DEDICATED TAX MILLAGE.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT LATER TODAY.
WHAT WE, OUR PLAN IS TO FRIDAY, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT DOWN AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN PLANNING SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU.
SO A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT LATER AS WELL.
UH, SO THAT I WILL TELL YOU IN DECEMBER, WE NORMALLY TURN TO SEASON'S, READINGS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AS WELL.
UH, THE ART GUILD WILL BE HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING LP B'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IMAGES AT LIBRARIES DURING THE FALL, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE SPRING.
UH, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE UPSTAIRS, UH, LAST NIGHT WE HOSTED GIS DAY RIGHT HERE IN THE LIBRARY.
DURING THE DAY, WE HAD THE STUDENTS FROM PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY AND PARKVIEW MIDDLE.
THEY WERE EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER THE LIBRARY.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET THE PROGRAMS OUT THERE.
THERE WILL BE SOME WONDERFUL CONCERTS IN DECEMBER FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AND YOUR CULTURAL ENRICHMENT MOVIES ON THE PLAZA WILL BRING IN THE A MINECRAFT MOVIE.
SO THERE'LL BE A DANCE PARTY OUT THERE ON DECEMBER 5TH HERE, AND THEN DOWNTOWN WE'LL BE HOSTING THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.
DOWNTOWN WILL BE HOSTING, UH, REDICK REVELRY.
AND I INVITE YOU TO LOOK FOR YOUR DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER IN PRINT AND ONLINE.
AND THAT IS IT FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
OKAY, MOVING, GO TO OTHER REPORTS.
THE MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS, MY APOLOGIES.
THE MAINTENANCE AND ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL BE READ BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LAURIE GI.
SO FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, UH, THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES THAT WERE ADDRESSED INCLUDE AT BLUE BONNET REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY.
A MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON AIR HANDLER UNIT NUMBER SIX, AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WAS PRESSURE WASHED ALSO.
NEW SPEED BUMPS WERE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE PARKING LOT AND A DAMAGED TREE WAS CUT AND REMOVED.
IN ADDITION, WE OBTAINED A QUOTE FOR REPAIRS TO THE PORT COHA DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY OUR DELIVERY TRUCK AT THE DELMONT GARDENS BRANCH LIBRARY.
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JUNCTION BOX ENCLOSURE FOR THE BACKFLOW PREVENTER WAS INSTALLED BY CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING NEW CONTROLS FOR THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM AT THE ZACHARY BRANCH LIBRARY.THE EXTERIOR WAS PRESSURE WASHED AND THE CARPET WAS CLEANED AT THE MAIN LIBRARY.
THE EXTERIOR WAS PRESSURE WASHED AND TREE DEBRIS WAS REMOVED FROM THREE CANOPIES.
IN ADDITION, REPAIRS WERE BEGUN TO SPLASH PAD AREA, WHICH INCLUDED INSTALLATION OF PEDESTALS AND NEW GRANITE TILES.
WE ARE WAITING FOR WATER FEATURE PARTS TO ARRIVE TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS UNDER MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
UH, THE OUTREACH PROJECT FINAL ACCEPTANCE WAS AWARDED ON NOVEMBER 12TH FOR THE ROOFING PROJECT.
A NOTICE TO PROCEED WAS ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 10TH WITH A 90 DAY DURATION.
THE CONTRACTOR BEGAN WORK AT THE JONES CREEK REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY IN THE AREA AROUND THE CUPOLA.
THEY HAVE SEALED WEATHER LEAKS WERE BOTH ON THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, CHANGED OUT CEILING TILES, REPLACED DRYWALL AND REPAIRED, I'M SORRY, REPAIRED DRYWALL AND PAINTED THE AREAS AS NEEDED.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AT THE BLUE BONNET REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY.
AFTER COMPLETING THE REPAIRS AT THE BLUE BONNET REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY, THEY WILL PROCEED WITH ADDRESSING THE REPAIRS FOR THE DELMONT GARDENS BRANCH LIBRARY AND THE ZACHARY BRANCH LIBRARY FOR THE BOILERS FOR EDEN PARK IN GREENWOOD SPRINGS BRANCH LIBRARIES.
THESE PROJECTS WILL BE GOING OUT FOR BE IT SOON.
WE EXPECT THE PROJECT FOR EDEN PARK LIBRARY TO GO OUT TO BE IT FIRST, POSSIBLY BY MID-DECEMBER.
AND FOR THE BLUE BONDED BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS, WE WILL DEFER THIS PROJECT DUE TO BUDGET UNCERTAINTIES, BUT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING INSTALLATION OF NEW LIGHTING AS THERE'S A NEED TO UPDATE THE LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING FOR THE CHILLER PROJECT.
THE CONTRACTOR IS CONTINUING WORK ON THE FINAL PUNCH LIST.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR CLEANING.
THE ZACHARY LIBRARY COMES OUT THERE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND IT, IT'S SURPRISING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD JUST SEEM TO GET MORE STUFF STUCK TO IT THAN OTHER BRANCHES.
EVEN ORDER NEXT TO MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? OKAY? GREAT.
AS EVERYONE IS AWARE BY NOW, OUR LIBRARIES MILLAGE FOR THE TAX, UH, EXCUSE ME.
OUR LIBRARIES MILLAGE TAX DID NOT PASS THE NOVEMBER 15TH ELECTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR ELECTED LEADERS, OUR LOCAL BUSINESS, LOCAL AREA, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, OUR PATRONS, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND OUR STAFF FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A HUGE OUTPOURING OF WELL WISHES.
TOO MANY TO COUNT FROM SO MANY PEOPLE SINCE LAST SATURDAY.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED VIA THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT THAT ALL HIRING FOR VACANT POSITIONS IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME EMPLOYEES OCCUPYING CERTAIN POSITIONS MAY BE CHANGED DUE TO SENIORITY BASED BUMPING AND SOME FUNDED VACANT POSITIONS MAY BE USED FOR JOB PLACEMENT.
HOWEVER, THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES PROPOSED FOR THESE POSITIONS MUST STILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR SOME OF THESE POSITIONS.
I WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU HOPEFULLY SOON.
WE NOW HAVE THE DEADLINE TO BRING A NEW PROPOSITION BEFORE THE METRO COUNCIL.
IF OUR NEW PROPOSITION GOES TO THE JUNE 27TH, 2026 ELECTION, THE LIBRARY WILL COLLECT REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2026 TO MAKE IT ON THIS BALLOT.
THE METRO COUNCIL MUST APPROVE IT BY APRIL 27TH, 2026, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THE NEW PROPOSITION TO THE BOARD ATTORNEY, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY, TO THE BOND ATTORNEY TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE METRO COUNCIL IN JANUARY, AND THEN IT WILL GO TO VOTE IN FEBRUARY.
WE, THE LIBRARY, MAY THEN RESUME THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
WE BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR TO KEEP THE PROPOSITION IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE UNDERSTANDING GOING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, WE MUST FIRST DETERMINE WHAT MILLAGE RATE WE WILL REQUEST IN THE NEW PROPOSITION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE BOARD OF CONTROL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING BETWEEN THE DATES OF DECEMBER 10TH AND 18TH THIS NEXT MONTH.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DO WE, WE HAVE ANY, UM, WELL, WE'LL LET THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON UNDER REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, YOU CAN STEP UP TO
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THE MIC AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
WHERE'S THE MY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS ANNA FOGLE AND I'M AN ADVOCATE IN OUR CITY.
BEEN DOING PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOR DECADES AND HAS BEEN, HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED AND PLEASED TO BE DOING ADVOCACY WORK FOR OUR LIBRARY.
IT PAINED ME TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE BEFORE US.
HOWEVER, I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR LIBRARIES ARE FUNDED AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED AND THAT THE NEW QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NEW TAXES THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE VOTERS WILL BE MET FAVORABLY.
I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT AND SERVANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I TOO HAD VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY I AM WITH YOU 120%.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, ASKING FOR A CLEAN, CRISP MILLAGE THAT DOES NOT HAVE EXTRA MONEY GOING TO A GENERAL FUND, BUT INSTEAD SUPPORTS THE 15 BRANCHES OF THIS LIBRARY, WHICH DO EVERYTHING FROM LIFELONG LEARNING TO BECOMING OUR CIVIC LIVING ROOMS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT HAS A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS A LIBRARY HERE.
I ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO STAY WITHIN A REASONABLE MILLAGE THAT SUPPORTS ALL THE OPERATIONS AND ALSO ADVANCES THE EXPANSION OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
YOU ARE A PIECE OF GOLD IN BATON ROUGE, AND WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT YOU.
SO TODAY, WE'RE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
WE WILL BE STANDING BEHIND YOU IN FRONT OF OUR METRO COUNCIL AS WE ADVANCE THIS ASSET FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I AM ALSO A LIFELONG BATON ROUGE AND, AND POLICY ADVOCATE AND, AND JUST A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE, THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE.
OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THE REASON WHY I VOTED NO IS 'CAUSE I WILL ACCEPT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LESS THAN THE FULL MILLAGE.
AND YOU SHOULD KEEP EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
NOTHING SHOULD GO TO A GENERAL SLUSH FUND, ESPECIALLY FROM AN AGENCY THAT'S RUN SO WELL AND SO WONDERFULLY FOR EVERY ARCH IN EVERY AREA OF THE PARISH.
YOU MAY REMEMBER MY CHILDREN FROM THIS PAST SUMMER.
WE WERE AT ANOTHER BOARD MEETING AND THEY SPOKE FROM THE HEART ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE LIBRARIES.
WE'RE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE WE ALSO USE THIS AS A COMMUNITY BUS STOP OR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I URGE YOU TO ASK FOR THE VERY TOP FULL RENEWAL THAT THIS, THIS PARISH HAS SUPPORTED.
WE WILL NOW, AGAIN FOR THE 40TH YEAR, PLEASE DO NOT RELINQUISH ONE SINGLE DOLLAR FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
YOU'VE SEEN THAT IN DROVES AT METRO COUNCIL MEETINGS, AT BOARD MEETINGS IN THIS ROOM TODAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE NO VOTES CAME BECAUSE WE DID NOT FEEL YOU SHOULD ACCEPT THE COMPROMISE BY GIVING UP $52.4 MILLION OR A SINGLE DOLLAR OF YOUR MILLAGE.
YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE EARNED.
YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT THIS PARISH HAS SUPPORTED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN FOR THE NEXT 10.
MY NAME IS NICK LEOR, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL ME, BUT I'M A HAS BEEN 'CAUSE I RAN FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION LAST YEAR.
UH, THAT'S THE BEST TITLE I CAN COME UP WITH.
ECHOING WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL FOLKS HERE TONIGHT SAID, FIGHT FOR A FULL MILLAGE.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT IT.
WE'RE IN AN AGE WHERE THINGS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US CONSTANTLY.
AND IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT UNITES EVERYONE IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THIS PARISH.
BUT IT IS THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
FIGHT FOR A FULL MILLAGE FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU DESERVE, AND THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO STAND UP BEHIND YOU AND SUPPORT YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
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THE PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.AND I HEARD EVERYBODY THAT CAME UP AND SAID THAT THEY VOTED NO AGAINST THRIVE.
BUT I WAS ONE THAT VOTED YES BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I SAW HOW HARD THE LIBRARY WORKED TO GET THIS TAX PASS.
SO I DID SUPPORT IT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AS A LOCAL AUTHOR, THE LIBRARY HAS SUPPORTED ME TREMENDOUSLY IN THE WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GO ON RECORD THAT I SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I LOVE MY LIBRARY.
MY NAME IS SHERRY RISCO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.
WE REPRESENT 113 CIVIC HOMEOWNER AND CONDO ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS THE PARISH.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SAY WE SUPPORT THE LIBRARY.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SAY, WE WILL ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT PRIOR TO WHENEVER THE VOTE IS SCHEDULED, YOU HAVE A PLACE ON OUR CALENDAR TO EXPLAIN TO OUR MEMBERS SO THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, UM, HOW THE NEXT MILLAGE REQUEST WILL LOOK.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.
MANY OF OUR ASSOCIATIONS USE THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR MEETINGS AS WELL AS JUST COUNTLESS OTHER THINGS.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL AND WE'RE HERE TO SAY, WE'RE HERE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
SO MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SAY THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON A MORE INVOLVED OVERVIEW OF THE LAST 11 MONTHS.
BUT YOU HAVE A MINI OVERVIEW IN FRONT OF YOU.
JUST A QUICK DOWN AND DIRTY ONE, UH, THAT KIND OF ENCAPSULATES, UH, THE, THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE IMPORTANT QUESTION AS, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KATRINA STOKES MENTIONED IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? SO I WANT TO, UH, REASSURE YOU THAT IN OUR PHONE CALLS BEGINNING ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY TO MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, THE BOND ATTORNEY, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO COULD HAVE THE SPECIAL INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO START THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, WERE IMMEDIATELY HELPFUL TO US.
AND THEY IMMEDIATELY GAVE US THE SCHEDULE THAT WE NEEDED, INCLUDING ALL THOSE IMPORTANT DEADLINES.
SO THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS KATRINA SAID WAS WE NEED Y'ALL TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOMETIME IN DECEMBER AS WE WORK ON VARIOUS PROJECTIONS AND WHAT THEY WOULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE, KNOWING THERE'S NEW FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
AND THEN, UH, THE, THE METRO COUNCIL WILL ACTUALLY APPROVE THE WHOLE PARISH BUDGET ON DECEMBER 10TH.
SO SOMETIME AFTER THAT, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU GUYS WITH A FORMAL MEETING.
AND THEN THE, THE TIMELINE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO MAKE A JUNE 27TH ELECTION IS TO BE ON THE METRO COUNCIL AGENDA ON THURSDAY, JANUARY THE EIGHTH.
AND THAT'S WHY Y'ALL HAVE TO MEET BEFORE THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO SEE SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM YOU.
AND THE BOND ATTORNEY NEEDS TO SEE SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM YOU SO THAT HE CAN PROPERLY PREPARE A PROPOSITION THAT WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS ON JUNE 27TH.
AND THE WORDING OF THAT PROPOSITION WOULD BE THAT IT WAS A DEDICATED TENURE TAX WITH AN ASSESSMENT FOR YEAR 2026.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH ALL MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE DATES OF THE ELECTIONS IN THE SPRING FROM APRIL, MAY TO MAY, JUNE.
WE WOULD THEN BE ON A METRO COUNCIL AGENDA FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH FOR A FORMAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE 11TH.
AT, AT THAT MEETING THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE METRO, WE WOULD ASK THE METRO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PROPOSITION, WHATEVER IT WAS.
SO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON THESE PROPOSITIONS.
AND OUR BUSINESS MANAGER, UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WORKING, WORKING, WORKING UP INTO THE LATE NIGHTS, AND SHE CAME IN AND THEN WE PUT HER TO BED.
SO, UH, YOU HAVE, UH, JUST THE BEGINNING OF SOME THOUGHTS, UH, AS WE GO THROUGH ALL THAT.
I WILL TELL YOU, YOU ALSO HAVE, UM, JUST THE BEGINNING OF SOME
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THOUGHTS ON HOW WE MIGHT FRAME IT.BECAUSE WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC OVER AND OVER AGAIN WAS THEY WERE CONFUSED.
THEY WERE CONFUSED THAT, WAIT, WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS? WHEN IS IT, WHICH IS IT? HOW IS IT SO CLEAN AND SIMPLE? STANDALONE LIBRARY MILLAGE, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW TAX, AND NEW TAX HAS A CONNOTATION FOR PEOPLE, BUT REALLY IT'S THE SAME OLD TAX, UH, SAME OLD STANDALONE LIBRARY DEDICATED TAX.
WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE, THE RATE THAT THAT KEEPS US SUSTAINED KEEPS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN GOING AND ASSURES STABILITY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
SO JUST I WANT TO PUT OUT HERE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, KINDA LIKE THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO, HAVING HEARD WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID IN THIS, UH, SATURDAY, WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
UH, IT, THIS WILL BE THE PEOPLE'S PROPOSAL AND THE PEOPLE WILL HELP US WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR YOUR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.
SO WE'VE BEEN PLAYING AROUND WITH SOME IDEAS TO JUST KIND OF KEEP US FOCUSED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
AS WE WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER, YOU'LL STILL SEE LOTS OF LIBRARY LOVE.
WE STILL FEEL THAT THE LIBRARY IS THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY.
I KIND OF THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE WILL GO BEFORE THE METRO COUNCIL RIGHT BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY.
SO, UM, UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, KNOWING THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE'S PROPOSAL AND THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND THE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK, OUR PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, IS MAYBE HERE TONIGHT.
AND THE PEOPLE, UH, IN THE PATRONS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, POPPLE WILL BE HERE TOMORROW WELCOMING OTHER GRASSROOTS CITIZEN ADVOCATES.
THE LIBRARY POWER NETWORK IS ONE OF THEM.
AND THEY WILL BE HERE TO ORGANIZE A SHOW OF SUPPORT, A PRESS CONFERENCE AS YOU, IF YOU WILL, TO BASICALLY OUTLINE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS IS.
EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE NUMBER, UH, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT ONCE OUR BUSINESS MANAGER TAKES HER, WHAT IS IT? THERAFLU,
ONCE WE START TO FINESSE THOSE THINGS AND HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK WITH PEOPLE LIKE OUR, UH, FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, OUR WONDERFUL FRIENDS AT TOGETHER, BATON ROUGE, OUR WONDERFUL FRIENDS WHO HAVE HELPED US, HOMEOWNER, UH, PRESIDENTS AND CHAIRS, AND, UH, REGULAR PATRONS WHO KEEP COMING AND THEY KEEP CALLING.
SO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAID, WE'LL BE THERE TO HELP YOU, I'M INVITING YOU TO SHOW UP AT 1130 ON FRIDAY, UH, TOMORROW, AND, UH, AND HELP GET THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTED.
UH, THERE'LL BE SOME REVISIONING AND THERE'LL BE AN EDITOR, BUT WE'VE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START TOMORROW AT 1130, AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US.
UH, COULD YOU, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE, THE STAFF OF THE, THE LIBRARY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PROGRAMS, CONTINUE THE LIBRARY FUNCTIONS, UM, AND, AND, UM, KEEP ON AS SUCH YES, YES.
UNTIL WE CAN GET NEW MONIES COMING IN.
BUT WE HAVE THE ABILITY MM-HMM
UH, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE HAVE MANAGED OUR MONEY TO KEEP ON OPERATING DURING THE DIFFICULT TIME.
JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, UH, WE HAVE NOT, RATHER, THE SHERIFF HAS NOT YET COLLECTED THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE YEAR 2025.
WE WILL RECEIVE THAT REVENUE IN JANUARY.
SO WE WILL OBTAIN FUNDING, UH, FOR THIS YEAR.
THE QUESTION IS IF WE CAN GET TO THE BALLOT SOON ENOUGH, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE APPROVED SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO COLLECT REVENUE IN 2026.
BUT WITH, WITH THE, WITH OUR FUND BALANCE SAVINGS, WHICH WAS PRETTY MUCH DESIGNATED FOR THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THAT THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF BEING ABLE TO PAY BILLS IN JANUARY UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE SHERIFF, UH, UH, SENDS US THE FUNDS OR THOSE FUNDS POPULATE IN OUR ACCOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR.
WELL, FOR TAX YEAR 2025, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL BE OPERATING.
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OPEN.UH, ALL, ALL CURRENTLY, UH, EMPLOYED LIBRARY EMPLOYEES NEED TO SHOW UP FOR WORK.
UM, AND THAT WILL BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.
WE'VE ALREADY SCALED BACK SOME THINGS.
SO WE'VE ALREADY FROZEN 72 POSITIONS.
WE'VE ALREADY CUT BACK ON DATABASES A BIT, NOT TOO MUCH.
UM, WE, SO WE'LL BE VERY CAREFUL UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE GET PAST JUNE 27TH.
BUT THE LIBRARY WILL BE OFFERING WONDERFUL SERVICES.
WE WILL HAVE A FABULOUS ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALREADY PLANNED THE MICROCON, UH, THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM WILL LAUNCH AS USUAL, UH, SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR, A BAKER FAIR, UH, RIGHT BEFORE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK.
AND SO PLEASE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT PAY-AS-YOU-GO PLAN AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING, TO KEEP THE BOOKS GOING OUT TO THE PEOPLE, TO KEEP THE DATABASES ALIVE, TO KEEP THE WIFI GOING, TO KEEP THE CAREER CENTER GOING MM-HMM.
TO KEEP SMALL BUSINESS SERVICE GOING.
AND OF COURSE, OUR PRESCHOOL, OUR READINESS, OUR BOOKMOBILE, UH, FLEET, THEY WILL STILL BE GOING OUT TO DAYCARE CENTERS AND RETIREMENT CENTERS AND LEARNING CENTERS.
SO, UH, WE ARE WORKING HARD SO THAT YOU DON'T SEE A DIMINISHMENT OF SERVICES AND OUR STAFF NEEDS TO COME TO WORK.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.
YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN AMAZING, AMAZING JOB FROM ALL THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UM, THE PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS, THE LUNCHES, THAT IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL COULD BE A LITTLE BIT TIRED, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATED.
DON'T THINK THAT THIS TAX FAILING WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR DOING.
IT WAS KIND OF OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.
YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD, YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COLLABORATORS WITH THE CITY, WITH EVERY, WITH SCHOOLS.
WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE TO HELP THE ENTIRE CITY, ESPECIALLY OUR PATRONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY PARISH ON THE THRIVE, IT DID NOT WORK.
WE SHOWED THAT WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF COMPROMISE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY.
BUT THE PEOPLE SPOKE, THEY'VE SPOKEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT, WHICH IS A DEDICATED MILLAGE.
ONE LIKE MS. JAN SAID, THAT DOESN'T JUST SUSTAIN THE LIBRARY, BUT ADVANCES THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
YES, WE CAN PAY THE BILLS, BUT TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING.
WE CAN'T BE AT A MILLAGE THAT ONLY SUPPORTS SUSTAINING THINGS, AND THEN WE GET CAUGHT IN A BAD SITUATION.
SO WE ARE KEEPING ALL THAT IN MIND AS WE LOOK THROUGH ALL THE PROJECTIONS THAT ARE COMING TO US.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ALWAYS REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WANT JUST TO TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS.
UH, I WILL SAY WE'LL START WORKING ON A NEW FAQ AND WE'LL BE WAITING FOR MS. SHERRY'S QUESTIONS.
AND ONE THING THAT, UH, I'VE GOTTEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY PROJECT IS GONNA FINISH.
YES, WE'VE GOT WALLS UP, Y'ALL, SHEET ROCK IS IN THERE.
AND THEN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE BAKER BRANCH LIBRARY WHERE WE'VE JUST SELECTED THE ARCHITECT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO JUST CHARGE AHEAD AND, AND, UH, WRITE THAT NEXT CHAPTER.
IT, THAT FUNDING WAS ALREADY DRAWN DOWN.
THE PEOPLE OF BAKER ARE GOING TO GET THEIR RENOVATION AS THEY NEED AND DESERVE AND EXPECT.
SO, UH, JUST STAY WITH US OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS.
AND I, I WANT TO, UM, GIVE A QUICK COMMENTARY ABOUT THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE METRO COUNCIL.
UM, I, I THINK THAT INITIALLY THE, UH, LIBRARY VERSUS POLICE THING JUST PUT SO MUCH DISTRUST AND, AND A BAD TASTE IN EVERY ONCE IN A MOUTH THAT NO MATTER WHAT CAME OUT, PEOPLE HAD ON BLURRED VISION AND DIDN'T SEE THE TRUTH, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT GOING IN WITH A CLEAN SLATE, WE EMAILS EVERY DAY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE LIBRARY, AND IS LIBRARY
[00:35:01]
SAFE? AND HAD A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS YESTERDAY LATE BECAUSE WE HAD OTHER TODAY, RIGHT? MM-HMM.BUT THE COMMENTARY IS PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT THRIVE TO PASS IN ONE COMMENT.
AND ANOTHER ONE IS, NO, WE DIDN'T TRUST THRIVE.
THRIVE DIDN'T HAVE CLEAR AND CONCISE MESSAGING.
IT SAID THRIVE, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPOSITIONS ON IT.
SO WHAT IS THRIVE? RIGHT? AND SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT BASED ON THE COMMENTARY FEEDBACK FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FROM MY COLLEAGUES, UM, WHO CLEARLY NOT A GENERAL FUND, UH, AGENCY.
AND THERE'S NO MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW TO, UH, SUPPORT THE LIBRARY IF IT WERE TO HAVE TO BE, UH, PUT BACK IN THERE MM-HMM
THAT THE PUBLIC WILL UNDERSTAND BASED ON HOW THE LIBRARY DOES WHAT IT DOES, WHICH GIVES THAT CLEAR, CONCISE MESSAGING THAT YOU PAY OR WE CLOSE.
AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC WILL MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOORS STAY OPEN AND THAT THEY GET QUIET.
THANK Y'ALL TOOK OFF, UH, THIS WHOLE LIBRARY COUNCIL THING.
I THINK I'M ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO SERVE, BUT I LEARNED SO MUCH MORE.
I CAMET EVEN THINK THE LIBRARY WAS RICH AND EVERYBODY ELSE, AND I LEARNED THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE.
YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, ED AND SHARON, I HEARD Y'ALL, UH, Y'ALL TOLD ME THAT I WASN'T BEING NECESSARILY HONEST WITH 11% BEING A REAL, 'CAUSE WE WEREN'T GETTING ALL THE MONEY.
AND OUR 20 TWOS OPERATING BUDGET WAS A SHELL OF WHAT WE ORIGINALLY WANTED TO BRING TO YOU AT LESS THAN 11.1%.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE'VE HEARD Y'ALL LOUD AND CLEAR.
UH, I DO NOT PLAN TO COMPROMISE, UH, ON IT.
UH,
AND, UH, WE, WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT.
AND, UH, I FOR ONE, ARE GONNA FIGHT FOR, UH, MAKING US, UH, ONE OF THE BEST RUN AGENCIES IN THE CITY.
AND WE, WE, HE SAID THAT, UH, IT WASN'T CLEAR AND CONCISE AS
WE KNOW WHERE EVERY DOLLAR IS PLANNED TO GO TO, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IN THE BUDGET.
I NEVER COULD GET A GOOD COMFORTABLE FEELING WHERE THEY WERE GONNA GO TO WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO TAKE FROM THE LIBRARY.
SO, UH, I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US.
KNOW THAT I'M AVAILABLE TO YOU.
ANYTIME YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO ME, ASK ME A QUESTION, AND, UH, I'LL TRY AND GIVE YOU THE BEST INFORMATION THAT I HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND I GUESS LASTLY, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE TO SAVE THAT DATE FOR FEBRUARY THE 11TH AT THE METRO COUNCIL.
UM, THAT'S WHEN WE'LL HAVE, IT SHOULD BE ON THEIR AGENDA FOR THEM TO VOTE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, DO WE NEED TO SET A DATE OF DECEMBER THE 18TH? POSSIBLY, UH, FOR A, A MEETING? UM, LET'S WAIT SINCE WE HAVE A COUPLE MEMBERS OUT.
LET'S WAIT AND THEN WE'LL SEND OUT A POLL AND GO AHEAD AND SET, SET IT.
WHEN DO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT SO THAT Y'ALL CAN POST IT SO THAT JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE? JUST TWO DAYS.
SO YES, PLEASE SEND OUT THAT POLL AND WE'LL SCHEDULE THAT DATE.
ANTOINETTE ANTOINETTE WILL SEND THAT OUT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS UNDER REPORTS BY THE DIRECTOR.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, UNFINISHED BUSINESS UPDATE ON SCOTT VILLE BRANCH LIBRARY.
OKAY, SO FOR THE UPDATES ON THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, ROOFING WORK IS ONGOING.
ROOF DECKING AND INSULATION HAS BEEN INSTALLED, AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY INSTALLING SHINGLES, WATERPROOF, AND THE EXTERIOR IS ONGOING.
EXTERIOR SHEATHING IS ONGOING.
INTERIOR FRAMEWORK IS COMPLETE.
INSTALLATION OF GYPSUM WALLS HAS BEGUN ON THE INTERIOR.
EXTERIOR FRAMEWORK IS ONGOING ON THE CANOPY AT THE ENTRANCE.
MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING WORK ARE ONGOING.
AND THE PROJECT IS STILL EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF MARCH, 2026.
AND I HAVE A FEW IMAGES THAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU.
YEAH, LET'S GET THAT THROUGH IT DOWN.
SO I HAD A FEW IMAGES THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU FOR SCOTLANDVILLE.
UH, SO THIS IS THE EXTERIOR, UH, VIEW OF THE SOUTHEAST WING OF THE LIBRARY.
[00:40:04]
THIS IS THE NEW CANOPY POSTS THAT ARE INSTALLED AT THE ENTRANCE.UM, THAT WILL BE A PORTICO DROP OFF FOR PATRONS.
THIS IS, UH, THE NORTH COURTYARD VIEW OF THE ONGOING EXTERIOR SHEATHING AND THE ROOFING.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S COMING TOGETHER AND THIS IS THE INTERIOR FRAMING OF NEW PROGRAM ROOMS AND THE CONFERENCE ROOMS. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE INTERIOR WALLS THAT MARY SPOKE ABOUT BEING INSTALLED.
SO THE PROJECT IS COMING ALONG AND AS MARY SAID, THESE PROJECTS ARE ALREADY FUNDED, SO NO WORRIES ABOUT THAT.
FOR THE BAKER BRANCH LIBRARY UPDATE, A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION WAS SENT TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES HAS SENT THE CONTRACT TO GFP ARCHITECTS TO BE SIGNED.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE LIBRARY'S BUILDING PROGRAM.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON THE AGENDA, THE, THE LIBRARY STAFF TO CONSIDER DISCUSS OPTIONS AND RETURN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE SECURITY BUDGET AND CONSIDERATIONS.
WE'VE JUST REINSTATED IT AND WE'VE WAIT.
WE HAVE, HAVE REINSTATED IT THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WE WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN IN JANUARY ONCE WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS? ALL RIGHT.
WE DID MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES DOWN TO UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
SO I WANT TO THE APPROVE OF, GET A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 16TH, 2025.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, UH, THOSE OF, UH, YOU WHO ARE HERE.
UM, AND WE LISTEN TO THE REPORTS ABOUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND THE ONGOING, UH, REPAIR WORK DONE TO EACH BRANCH.
UM, WE HAVE AN ACTUAL PLAN AND OF OUR BUILDINGS, THEIR MAINTENANCE, UH, WHEN THEY COME UP FOR, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE REPAIRED WHEN THEY, UH, COME UP TO EVEN BE REPLACED, THAT WE KEEP THE, UM, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A, UM, A CONSTANT, UM, UH, REMINDER OF WHAT THE, THE, WHAT WE ARE DOING TO KEEP THE BUILDINGS, KEEP ALL THE FACILITIES, UH, IN, IN GOOD SHAPE SO THAT, UM, WE WON'T HAVE A, UM, A DISASTER, YOU KNOW, HAPPEN TO ONE OF THE BUILDINGS.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR PROGRAMMING, OUR, OUR OUR, UM, ALL THE BOOKS, EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT ARE OUR PRIORITY.
BUT OUR BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND UH, KEEPING THINGS REALLY UP TO DATE IS, UM, WHY WE HAVE ALL THIS GOING ON.
I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
AND I THINK THAT THIS GOT LOST IN TRANSLATION WITH EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT OVER TAXATION AND, UH, MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS, WHATEVER EXCUSE THEY CAME UP WITH.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BRIGHT AND SHINER STARS IN ALL THE CITY PARISH, IT IS THE AREAS THAT ARE PROPERLY FUNDED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PARK SYSTEM, PEOPLE CAN ARGUE ABOUT THE RATING.
UH, THEY TRY TO GET IT RESCINDED AND THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE WE RANK NUMBER ONE PARK SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, NUMBER ONE LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, QUI ABATEMENT, WHO I DON'T THINK GETS ENOUGH, UM, LIGHT SHED ON 'EM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T, UH, TRANSPORT DISEASES AROUND OUR CITY PARISH AND, AND THE MOSQUITO ROAD CONTROL POPULATION, BUT THEY'RE A TOP TENURE COUNTRY.
WHEN WE PROPERLY FUND CITY PARISH FUNCTIONS, YOU GET GREAT RESULTS, WHICH IS WHY THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, I, ALONG WITH A FEW OF THE COLLEAGUES OFFERED THE PAGE STUDY, HAD IT AT $12.9 MILLION TO BEFORE EVERYBODY SO BROAD.
I WAS PAY RAISE FOR EVERYBODY FROM 35 MILLION TO 12.9.
BECAUSE WHEN WE PROPERLY FUND OUR PEOPLE, WE GET BETTER RESULTS.
ANYTHING THAT'S PROPERLY FUNDED, YOU GET RESULTS.
[00:45:01]
I THINK OUR STAFF, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PROPERLY PAID, BUT YOU SHOW UP EVERY DAY, YOU DO A WONDERFUL JOB AND WE'RE STILL NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY WITH WHERE YOU ARE.SO IMAGINE IF WE PROPERLY FUNDED OUR STAFF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
NOT JUST HERE, BUT ALL OVER CITY PARISH.
'CAUSE THEN YOU WOULD GET THE RESULTS.
YOU GOTTA CHOOSE IF YOU WANT THE DOLLAR MEAL, IF YOU WANT RUTH, CHRIS, YOU KNOW, SOME RANDOM BILL.
AND SO, UM, WHEN THIS HITS THE BALLOT, I'M HOPING EVERYBODY SAYS RIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HIS LIBRARY IS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT 80.8% OF THE, UH, VOTING POPULATION, UH, TO PLEASE GET INVOLVED.
UH, WE, WE'VE RUN A WONDERFUL LIBRARY SYSTEM.
COME TALK TO ME, LET ME SHOW YOU AROUND IT AND UH, LET ME EARN YOUR VOTE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED.
HEARING NONE, THE MEETINGS ADJOURNED.