MEEKER |The Meeker Regional Public Library Board of Trustees held its regular February meeting last week in the community room at the public library.
Board President John Moffit, Vice President Keri Grieser, Secretary/Treasurer Toby Leavitt and member Dan Olson attended in person. Member Michael Cobb joined the meeting via Zoom.
The board opened the meeting by unanimously approving an updated agenda, adding a previously missed legislative update and revised dates for the director review process.
During public comment, community members raised several concerns and suggestions.
Kris Casey asked the board to ensure all entities are included in future discussions regarding the trustee appointment process.
“At the work session it was brought up to have that conversation with the county, and I was just making sure that the town was also part of it because it was all three that were in there, and then hoping that you have a meeting set when you have that discussion today,” Casey said.
Peggy Strate reflected on past processes and communication, emphasizing the importance of transparency.
“Another thing that happened a year ago, I think it could be handled [differently]. I know that the Sunshine laws have been an issue in the meetings and the thing that keeps coming back to my mind is what happened when John Moffit was selected as president. It was very obvious that had been discussed before the meeting,” Strate said.
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Lockwood encouraged the board to strengthen its purchasing policies.
“Make it very strong and robust and transparent,” Lockwood said, adding that local vendors should be considered to avoid challenges with warranty work.
Following public comment, the board approved the minutes from its Jan. 28, 2026, meeting.
Under new business, the board announced the reappointment of trustee Michael Cobb. “I’m just thankful for the trust that the three county commissioners put into me. I’m expected and hopeful to be working with my fellow trustees and our director, Kristina. I hope we can continue the good work we started,” Cobb said.
The board then held officer elections. After multiple nominations, tie votes and discussion regarding Robert’s Rules of Order, Moffit was re-elected as board president. Grieser was selected as vice president, and Leavitt was chosen as secretary/treasurer, leaving leadership roles unchanged.
The board also approved a tuition reimbursement request for Library Director Kristina Selby in the amount of $1,667 for a class she had already paid for. While members agreed to cover the cost, they acknowledged the need for clearer guidelines moving forward.
“Moving forward, I think we need to make some kind of a plan, and it should indicate that money should go to the institution and it should just be for management,” Leavitt said.
Olson raised concerns about documentation and policy clarity.
“I would like to fully understand what our obligations are, what our commitments were,” Olson said.
Board members noted that a previous tuition assistance policy existed but lacked clarity, including details on reimbursement percentages and documentation requirements. The board agreed a revised policy should be drafted and reviewed.
The board also discussed a proposed social media policy outlining how staff manage accounts, moderate comments and document removed content. Concerns were raised about the practicality of tracking deleted comments and ensuring compliance with public records laws.
Selby noted challenges with recordkeeping.
“I actually have been speaking with a company called Civic Plus. They keep track of every post that was made to our social media. If somebody else removes something, then we have no access to that anymore,” Selby said.
Board members also discussed limiting or disabling public comments on social media to reduce administrative burden and legal risk. Appeals and more serious actions, such as banning users, would be handled by the board.
The board approved its drug, alcohol and smoking policy, as well as a workplace accommodation for nursing employees policy.
Trustees also discussed the status of a potential meeting with the town and county, noting that the county suggested a joint meeting where the library district would serve as observers. Attorney Glory Schmidt reported limited communication with the county’s new attorney regarding the intergovernmental agreement, while board members emphasized that appointment authority lies with the town and county.
Later in the meeting, trustees discussed future workshop scheduling. Members agreed to skip a March workshop and consider holding workshops as needed, potentially on the second Tuesday of each month. They emphasized keeping meetings efficient and ensuring agendas are prepared in advance.
The board approved its January 2026 financials and discussed investment funds, with certified public accountant Paul Wilson explaining that certificates of deposit were moved to Mountain Valley Bank at a 3.5% rate.
Selby also reported on library programming, including a recent cosmology event and upcoming activities such as a homeschool resource fair. She noted new security lighting installation and pending radon test results.
Schmidt provided legislative updates, including new limitations on collecting immigration-related information, which she said she will review to ensure compliance with district policies.
The meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room at the Meeker Public Library.