Metropolitan Library Service Agency
Trustee Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Roseville Library
10:00am-12:00pm
Trustee Members Present:
Anoka: Julie Jeppson Ramsey: Mary Jo McGuire
Carver: Lisa Anderson Saint Paul: not present
Dakota: Laurie Halverson Scott: Tom Wolf
Hennepin: Debbie Goettel Washington: not present
Staff Present: Jennifer Baker, Abigail Dillon, Gina Goettl, and Sherry Wichitchu
I. Call to order
Chair Halverson called the meeting to order at 10:06am.
II. Introductions and Public Comment
For 2026, there are four new board members: Lisa Anderson from Carver County, Mary Jo McGuire from Ramsey County, Saura Jost from Saint Paul City Council, and Tom Wolf from Scott County.
III. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda by Jeppson. Second by Wolf.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
IV. Consent Agenda
a) Approval of meeting minutes (November 20th, 2025)
b) Approval of November/December disbursements
Motion to approve the meeting minutes and November/December disbursements by Goettel. Second by Jeppson.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – abstain
CCL – abstain RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
V. Annual Meeting
a) Oath of office/conflict of interest statement
The oath of office was taken and signed by the board members, and the conflict of interest statement was filled out by board members who were on the board in 2025.
b) Election of officers and approval of check signers
Motion to approve the following slate of officers for 2026: President: Julie Jeppson, Vice President: McGuire, Treasurer: Debbie Goettel.
Motion by Wolf. Second by Anderson.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
Motion to approve the following individuals to be check signers for the organization in 2026: President: Julie Jeppson, Vice President: McGuire, Treasurer: Debbie Goettel, Executive Director: Sherry Wichitchu.
Motion by Goettel. Second by Anderson.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
c) Committee appointments
Finance: Goettel (Chair/Treasurer), Anderson, Wolf, Jost, Jeppson
Personnel: McGuire (Chair/Vice President), Halverson, Clasen, Jeppson
Nominating: Jeppson, McGuire, Goettel
Jeppson will contact Clausen and Jost to see which committees they would like to be on. [NOTE: confirmed after the meeting that Jost will be on Finance and Clasen will be on Personnel.]
Motion to appoint the selected members, to the Finance, Personnel, and Nominating Committees for calendar year 2026. Motion by Anderson. Second by Goettel.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – abstain
CCL – abstain RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
d) Consideration and approval of the MELSA Draft Strategic Plan 2026-2028
Amanda Standerfer from Alliance for Library Impact visited the meeting and presented on MELSA’s draft strategic plan. The proposed plan was distributed in the meeting packet. This includes a purpose statement: “Through collaboration, MELSA communicates, expands access, invests in, and advocates for strong public libraries.” The strategic directions are: define and communicate MELSA’s role, equitable access to eResources and technology, invest in library collaboration, and advocate for the future of public libraries. Implementation is the next step, including an activity plan, evaluation framework, and reporting, and Alliance for Library Impact will be assisting MELSA with this process.
Motion to approve the MELSA Draft Strategic Plan for 2026-2028 by Halverson. Second by Goettel.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
e) Personnel Committee report
(i) Medical and preventative dental coverage for 2026
MELSA pays the entire medical and preventative dental insurance premium for Single coverage, i.e., no employee contribution is required, due to wage adjustments in past years and additional benefits received by Dakota County employees not available to MELSA staff. These include Flexible Spending Account contributions, continuation of insurance coverage after retirement, Flex leave conversion, etc. This amount—the employee contribution for Single medical coverage—is also deducted from the total employee premium for those selecting Single +1 or Family medical coverage.
Motion to approve that MELSA continue to pay the cost of single health and preventative dental insurance premium for MELSA employees. Motion by Goettel. Second by McGuire.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
(ii) Paid leave policy
The proposed Minnesota Paid Leave Policy has been vetted by our Dakota County Attorney and is ready for adoption.
Motion to adopt the proposed Paid Leave Policy by Halverson. Second by McGuire.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
(iii) COLA increase for 2026
In November 2025, the annual budget was passed including a 3.5% placeholder for a staff COLA. Because the Personnel Committee was unable to meet prior to the budget’s passage, it is now necessary for this body to formally review and recommend a final COLA percentage.
The committee must determine if the budgeted 3.5% remains the most appropriate figure or if the organization should pivot to match the most recent economic indicators provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Inflation in Minneapolis and the Midwest region were taken into account, as well as market wage growth in the Minneapolis area. A 3.5% COLA percentage increase is recommended.
Motion to approve a 3.5% COLA for MELSA staff in 2026. Motion by Goettel. Second by McGuire.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
f) Consideration and approval of Fund Balance Assignment for 2025 Adult Programming allocations
Included in the 2025 budget adjustments approved September 18th is $42,000 in allocations to the library systems for piloting programs for adult library patrons that are not eligible for Legacy funding. These allocations, requested by the MELSA Adult Programming interest group (member library staff), were approved at the September 5 Advisory Board meeting, pending development of spending guidelines. The guidelines have been reviewed and approved by Advisory Board; however, to allow for sufficient time to plan and promote their programming, the library systems are requesting carryover of their allocations to early 2026.
Assignments of the year-end fund balance are typically presented to the Board of Trustees at the March meeting following the late February audit fieldwork for the prior year. MELSA is presenting this early fund balance assignment for approval in January so that library systems have access to their funds prior to March, if needed.
Motion to approve the assignment of the 2025 fund balance for budgeted Adult Programming allocations to be spent by the library systems in early 2026. Motion by Halverson. Second by Anderson.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
g) Consideration and approval of Saint Paul Public Library Legacy request
MELSA’s Legacy guidelines state that single contract/single artist Legacy programs that exceed $15,000 requires the approval of MELSA’s board. In accordance with those guidelines, the following is a proposal from Saint Paul Public Library for a Legacy expense:
Saint Paul Public Library requests Legacy funds to pay for a Cheeriup Thicket to be installed outdoors in the storytime garden of the new Hamline Midway Library. The cost of Thicket production and final product is estimated at $17,000.
A local artist named Kelly Hutchinson custom builds interactive outdoor structures called Thickets – they look like little huts. These structures are made of steel and natural materials (wood, branches/sticks) and are meant to go outdoors. Users can go inside to sit, read, or play together. They are meant to engage users with the natural world and inspire wonder and imagination.
Motion to approve Saint Paul’s proposal for the Cherriup Thicket for Trustee Board Approval by Halverson. Second by McGuire.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
h) Consideration and approval of Draft MELSA Governing Board Bylaws
A subcommittee met last year to revise the existing bylaws, which had not been revisited since 2018. The draft of the new bylaws was distributed in the meeting packet.
Goettel suggested distributing a list of current Governing Board members and alternates at the next meeting.
Motion to approve Draft MELSA Governing Board Bylaws by Goettel. Second by Wolf.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
i) Consideration and approval of MELSA legal services and general counsel
Following the notification from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office that they will not be renewing their legal services agreement with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) beyond December 31, 2025, MELSA initiated a Request for Quotation (RFQ) process to secure new general counsel. We received three highly qualified submissions. Based on their extensive local government expertise and existing relationships within our network, MELSA’s Executive Director recommends entering into a contract with Kennedy & Graven.
Motion to approve contracting with Kennedy & Graven as MELSA legal counsel by Wolf. Second by Halverson.
All in favor signified by saying aye.
ACL – aye HCL – aye SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – not present
Motion carried.
VI. Reports
Executive Director Report
The Executive Director report was distributed in the meeting packet. Highlights include possible human resources partnership with Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) and Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (MESB). There will be a new position created and administered by Mosquito Control and the position will be posted soon. It is possible that MELSA could relocate to the MESB/MMCD facility.
MELSA is still in the process of hiring a new Business Manager, as Mona Scott is retiring on February 28. Wichitchu will send the job listing out to the board.
The board decided they do not need breakfast provided before the meeting for future meetings.
Halverson adjourned the meeting at 11:48am.