The Upper Sandusky Community Library Board of Trustees holds its regular meetings on the second Thursday of every month at 12:00 p.m. in the library's board meeting room in the basement. The meetings are open to the public.

The approved minutes for the most recent Board of Trustees meeting are available below. 

Upper Sandusky Community Library Board of Trustees: May 14, 2026

The Upper Sandusky Community Library Board of Trustees convened on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Library Board Room with the following members present: Mr. Todd Leightey, Mr. Ben Buckland, Ms. Dianne Grafmiller, Ms. Ann Kemerley, Mr. Brian Kimmel, and Ms. Jenny Romich. Ms. Amy Aldridge-Ritchey attended virtually through Zoom. Director Kathleen Whitt and Mr. Danny Schwartz of the Daily Chief-Union were also present. 

President Todd Leightey asked for public comments. Hearing none, Mr. Leightey asked if there were corrections or additions to the distributed minutes of the April meeting. Hearing none, Mr. Leightey declared that the minutes stand as distributed. 

Next on the agenda was a motion to ratify the payment of the bills. Mr. Leightey asked if there were any questions about the bills. There was a question about payments to Hoepf Electric and All Star Plumbing. Ms. Whitt said that the payment to Hoepf was for emergency egress lighting, which was approved at the January meeting. The payment to All Star was for installation of a backflow valve, which was required by the city, and which had a short due date for compliance. Hearing no further questions, the motion was made and seconded to ratify the payment of bills; in a roll call vote, all present approved the bills. 

Under old business, Ms. Whitt submitted an updated quote from CSI Construction Services to remodel the downstairs meeting room kitchenette for $16,791. The quote includes all materials and fixtures except for a stove, which we would need to purchase separately. We received a new refrigerator as a donation from a patron last year. Most of the cost of the remodel would be covered by funds received in a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation and bequests and donations received in recent years for building improvements. Although CSI cannot complete the project before our upcoming Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit this summer, they would be able to start on October 1, right after the exhibit is over. It was noted that it would be a good idea to approve the work now and get on CSI’s calendar. It was moved and seconded to accept the CSI quote to remodel the downstairs meeting room kitchenette, and to approve a 20% contingency amount over the cost of the quote in case of unexpected additional costs. In a roll call vote, all present approved the motion. 

Under new business, Ms. Whitt said that due to the decision to stop minting the penny, SEO has offered two services to member libraries: rounding unpaid patron bills to the nearest 5 cents, and rounding item prices in the library catalog to the nearest 5 cents. Since most people pay their bills with a debit or credit card, it doesn’t seem necessary to round the bill amounts. We are already rounding the item prices when we add new materials to the catalog, so it seems helpful to have SEO round the prices for existing items. There is no fee for this service. It was moved and seconded to have SEO round the prices for items in the library catalog to the nearest 5 cents. In a roll call vote, all present approved the motion. 

The next item on the agenda was discussion of quotes to replace the roof gutters, which are leaking. We have received quotes from Clause Construction and Roszman Roofing, both for about $9,200. Roszman has said the roof itself appears to have a couple more years of service life. The board had several questions about the roof and the gutters. Has the roof ever been replaced? We have not found any record of this, although the building is 40 years old. Ms. Whitt will look further into this. Can the leaking gutters be repaired? Is the leaking causing any damage? Should we wait and replace the gutters when the roof is replaced in the next few years? Ms. Whitt will investigate, and make sure the roof replacement is in the facilities plan for the near future. The issue was tabled pending further information. 

Ms. Whitt then said that she had asked Oney Family Painting for a quote to refresh the interior paintwork where it has been damaged. It would be nice to have this done before the Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit, when we hope to welcome a lot of visitors. The quote has not been received yet. After discussion of other possible painting contractors, the board suggested we also solicit a quote from Nan Nameth. The issue was tabled pending receipt of quotes for this work.

The last item on the agenda was adoption of a Cybersecurity Policy as mandated by ORC 9.64 (last year’s HB96). 

It was moved and seconded that the Board move to executive session in order to discuss security arrangements. In a roll call vote, all attending approved the motion. The Board entered executive session at 12:40. 

At 1:05, the regular session was resumed. 

It was moved and seconded to adopt the Cybersecurity Policy as presented. In a roll call vote, all present approved the motion. 

In the Director’s Report, Ms. Whitt reported that: 

1. We have had some staffing changes over the last few weeks. Janet Dewolf resigned on April 14, so we have hired two new library assistants: De Laney Salsbury started on April 21, and Deidre LaMont started April 28. They are both doing well, and it is a pleasure to work with them. 
2. The parking lot resealing project was completed on April 20-21. 
3. Our internet phone system was installed on April 21. The project involved technicians from First Communications and Atticus Rowan (Buckeye IT) and an elevator technician from Davis and Newcomer. Unfortunately, our phone connection with the alarm system, which is monitored by Johnson Controls and makes automated calls to senior library staff and emergency services was disconnected. Despite several follow-up calls with both First Communications and Johnson Controls we have not yet got this restored. First Communications has escalated the issue, and we hope to have it resolved soon. 
4. Our garden project is well underway. Outreach Coordinator Taryn Korody, Teen Services Specialist Lisa Andres, and several of our middle school students constructed the raised bed. Rall Supply donated the lumber, Carmar Gardens donated the soil, Pfeifer Hardware donated some gardening tools, and Walmart has said they will donate some plants. We are planning to put in a salsa garden this year (tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, etc.). 
5. The downtown story walk this month features My Garden by Kevin Henkes, while readers at Stepping Stones Park will enjoy Christie Matheson’s Bird Watch. 
6. On Monday, May 18, we will host Barb Scott, Business and Artificial Intelligence faculty member at Marion Technical College, with an introduction to Artificial Intelligence. She will discuss how AI can help in a number of ways at home and at work, and answer questions on this growing area of technology. 
7. Craft Party attendees this month will make a diamond art hummingbird keychain. The Lunch Bunch theme is “Welcome to Summer.” And Taste of the States returns with flavors of Nevada, featuring Navajo fry bread with prickly pear jelly. 
8. Common Readers are discussing The Wedding People by Alison Espach this month, and the Inglorious Bookworms are reading Intensity by Dean Koontz, as they explore the horror genre. 
9. It’s almost Summer Reading time! Our theme this year is “Uncover Your Story.” We’ve already started visiting the schools to sign up kids there, and all ages will be able to register at the library starting on Saturday, May 30, at our annual Donut Day event. 
10. The Ohio Library Council has informed library directors that it is on the Steering Committee for Ohioans to Protect Public Services (OPPS) – a broad-based coalition of more than 65 statewide organizations. The coalition was formed to explain the serious consequences of eliminating all property taxes on homes and businesses, with no plan to replace the revenue. The OLC has made available a Public Libraries and Property Taxes Fact Sheet and information from the Ohioans to Protect Public Services. Public libraries account for ONLY 2.5% of all property taxes collected statewide. 
11. The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) posted the May 2026 Public Library Fund (PLF) distribution of $40,419,668 – which is $393,641 (or +0.98%) more than ODT’s original estimate that was issued in July 2025 and ODT’s updated estimate issued in December 2025 that went unchanged. According to the Office of Budget and Management (OBM), the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) tax receipts for April 2026 came in $338.9 million or 13.3% above estimate. This means the total GRF tax receipts to-date for FY 2026 are exceeding estimates by almost $1.16 billion or 4.9%. The final PLF distribution for the current fiscal year will be posted and distributed at the beginning of June. Once the final distribution is posted, OLC will provide a complete analysis and comparison of the PLF as a line-item appropriation vs a percentage of the GRF for FY 2026. This will be important as we begin our preparations for the next state budget. 
12. April Memorial/Honor/Donations: 
    1. In memory of: Marilyn Baughman 
       1. Donor(s): Troy & C.M. Kear; Mark & Nancy Johnson; Lu Lehman; William & Kathleen Aubry; Debra Schroll; Stan & Becky Geiser; Joycelyn Cancro; Rosa Frisch & family; Marlene McCleary; Tom & Kerry Barth; David & Janet Engle; Chris & Shannon Roper; Alberta Courtright-Gottfried; Bob & Clara Nachbar; Sharon Newell & Phil Herring; Brenda Keller; Donald Woods; Betty Rhoden & Family; Randy & Sue Barth; Mark & Mary Rossel 
    2. In memory of: Helen Rall 
       1. Donor(s): Lydia Rall-Dhrobak 
    3. In memory of: Chris Richman 
       1. Donor(s): Charles & Laurie Vent; Laura Hunter; Susan Bowers; David & Deborah Bastel; Rodney & Terri Long; Elizabeth Snyder; Mark & Nancy Johnson; Brad & Joan Batton; James & Carol Minehart; Judy Snyder; Nanette Mouser; Clayton & Sharon Calvin; Marion Technical College; Jane & Matthew Smalley; Van & Vicki Orians; Mary & Thomas Klein; Thomas & Rebecca Vaughn; Tricia & Drew Rall; Ann & Todd Leightey; James & Barbara McEldowny; Debra & Jeffrey Garber; Tom & Betty Martin; William & Kathleen Aubry; USMS/Union Elementary Teachers; Steve & Jill Eyestone; Bill & Pam Clark; Mark & Mary Rossel; Ralph & Sue Ann Smith; Gerald & Rebekah Richards 

There were no Items Not on the Agenda. 

Mr. Leightey asked whether there were any additional items for discussion. Hearing none, the motion was made and seconded to adjourn; the meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

If you would like to view older Board of Trustees minutes, please email uscl@seolibraries.org.