Metropolitan Library Service Agency
Trustee Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Savage Library
10:00am-12:00pm
Trustee Members Present:
Anoka: Julie Jeppson Ramsey: Mary Jo McGuire (virtual)
Carver: Lisa Anderson Saint Paul: Saura Jost (virtual)
Dakota: Laurie Halverson Scott: Tom Wolf (virtual)
Hennepin: not present Washington: not present
Staff Present: Abigail Dillon, Nan Her, Gina Goettl, Kathleen James (virtual), and Sherry Wichitchu
I. Call to order
Chair Jeppson called the meeting to order at 10:02am.
II. Public Comment
McGuire, Jost, Wolf, and Clasen are all attending virtually due to scheduling conflicts.
III. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda by McGuire. Second by Anderson.
Roll call vote:
ACL – aye HCL – not present SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – not present SPL – aye
Motion carried.
IV. Consent Agenda
a) Approval of meeting minutes from May 21, 2026
b) Approval of checks and financials
Motion to approve the meeting minutes and checks/financials by Wolf. Second by Anderson.
Roll call vote:
ACL – aye HCL – not present SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – not present SPL – aye
Motion carried.
V. Discussion/Action Items
a) Finance Committee recommendations
The Finance Committee met on June 3 with Treasurer and Chair of Finance Debbie Goettel, Commissioners Lisa Anderson, Tom Wolf, and Julie Jeppson in attendance along with Executive Director Sherry Wichitchu and Business Manager Nan Her. The preliminary 2027 budget was discussed. The preliminary budget was distributed in the meeting packet.
Halverson entered the meeting at 10:08am.
i) Approval of proposed preliminary 2027 budget
Motion to approve the 2027 preliminary budget as reviewed and recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion by Halverson. Second by Wolf.
Roll call vote:
ACL – aye HCL – not present SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – aye
Motion carried.
b) Approval of LB Carlson audit engagement letter
On June 10, 2026, MELSA received the 2027 audit engagement letter from our current firm, LB Carlson. Due to the delayed arrival of this document, it is being presented to the Board for approval at this time.
The Finance Committee has reviewed the preliminary FY2027 budget, which includes the recommendation to retain LB Carlson for one additional year before initiating a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. This approach ensures stability during the transition period with MELSA’s new business manager.
Motion to approve the retention of LB Carlson to conduct the 2027 audit by Anderson. Second by Wolf.
Roll call vote:
ACL – aye HCL – not present SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – aye
Motion carried.
c) Approval of FY2026 Regional Library Basic System Support (RBLSS) application
Each June 30, regional public library systems are required to apply for Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) funds for the next fiscal year. As part of that application, the regional system must: submit an auditor’s report for the previous year, report progress on a system’s overall goals and programs, identify proposed cost allocations, confirm that member libraries are in compliance with the statutory Maintenance of Effort guidelines, and provide member library reports on any new library construction. This application was included in the meeting packet.
Motion to approve the submission of the FY2027 application for Regional Library Basic System Support to State Library Services of the Minnesota Department of Education. Motion by Anderson. Second by Jeppson.
Roll call vote:
ACL – aye HCL – not present SCL – aye
CCL – aye RCL – aye WCL – not present
DCL – aye SPL – aye
Motion carried.
VI. Reports
a) Executive Director update
The director’s report was distributed in the meeting packet, including the upcoming Minnesota Libraries Read Together event September 18-20, 2026. Some legislative updates were shared, including DC’s e-book pricing fairness act that was signed by the mayor, and Rhode Island passed their e-book legislation.
There was discussion that the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) could support e-book legislation as well, and Jeppson will pursue this as chair of District 10.
The Saint Paul Public Library system will be reopening the Hamline-Midway Library with a celebration on July 18th.
There are two upcoming legislative events – the Big Issues Summit is on June 22nd at Brookdale Library, and then the virtual Legislative Forum is on July 20th.
Jeppson adjourned the meeting at 11:04am.