LCPL RELEASES THE ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT
By Susan Salyer
The Lawrence County Public Library Board of Trustees had a Regular Board Meeting on Monday December 9, 2024 at the library, 102 W. Main Street, Louisa, Kentucky 41230 at Noon. LCPLKY Interim Director Deena Meade was in attendance along with Board of Trustees Susie Chambers, Kim Burchett, Lindsay Smith and Lennie Collins. Lynn Perry was absent.
ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT
NOVEMBER MINUTES
November Minutes were approved unanimously with a Motion by Lindsay Smith and seconded by Kim Burchett.
NOVEMBER FINANCIALS
November Financials were approved unanimously with a Motion by Susie Chambers seconded by Lennie Collins.
BOARD UPDATE
December 9, 2024 Board Update
• November 2024 Programs Total number of in-house programs 48
Total attendance 1,378.
Total outreach programs 52. Total outreach attendance 712
Total self-directed activities 18
Total self-directed participants 1058
• November 2024 new book given away: 212
• Weeded / Donated books given away: 354 (Weeded 0,Donated 354)
• Passports Processed: 2
• Notary: 38
• Quiet Room Usage: 123
• Podcast Plays: 9
• BSN Digital Collection Views: 123
• BSN unique users: 60
• Door Count: 7,573
APPROVE DAYS CLOSED FOR 2025
2025 Lawrence County Public Library Closed Days
January 1, 2025 New Year’s Day (Closed)
January 20,2025 Martin Luther King Jr Day (Closed)
February 17, 2025 Staff in-Service Day (Staff Reports or work, building closed to public)
May 26,2025 Memorial Day (Closed)
June 19,2025 Juneteenth (Closed)
July 4,2025 Independence Day (Closed)
September 1,2025 Labor Day (Closed)
September 5, 2025 September fest (Closed)
September 6, 2025 September fest (Closed)
October 13,2025 Staff in-service Day (Staff reports to work building is closed to the public)
November 11,2025 Veterans Day (Closed)
November 27 2025 Thanksgiving Day (Closed)
November 28, 2025 Thanksgiving holiday (Closed)
December 24,2025 Christmas Eve (Closed)
December 25, 2025 Christmas Day (Closed)
December 26,2025 Day after Christmas (Closed)
January 1,2026 New Year’s Day (Closed)
CD RENEWAL
Trustees voted to have Deanna Meade check the interest rates and invest in the highest rate. Ms. Meade is interim director and asked the group to show the financial statement in order to move forward. The discussion including Kim Burchett, director City Bank, Ms. Smith, a KDLA representative Jeff?. Ms. Smith asked why funds are in banks, and which banks are used by the library. The audit was presented by Tony Workman, of Kelly Galloway Smith and Goolsby.
Motion by Lindsay Smith second by Kim Burchett to report to the board the best route to take with the excess funds. None Opposed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
A reporter asked when the deadline date for hiring a Library Director would be.
Deanna Meade said, “December 13, 2024 is the deadline and several applications have been received, there are a few applicants that have all qualifications met.”
The deadline for applicants is Dec. 13. Applications can be found here LCPLKY.org
AGENDA
1. November Minutes – Motion by Lindsay Smith 2nd by Kim Burchett. None Opposed.
2. November Financials – Motion by Susie Chambers 2nd by Lennie Collins. None Opposed.
3. Board Update – Deena Meade discussed the Board Update with the Library Trustees.
4. Approve days closed for 2025 – Motion by Susie Chambers 2nd by Lennie Collins. None Opposed.
5. Cd Renewal – Motion by Lindsay Smith 2nd by Kim Burchett
6. Annual Audit Report (Anthony Workman) – Discussion of Audit Report
7. Judge/Executive Phillip L Carter says HO!Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas to everyone
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You can see yesterday’s meeting on the library’s FB account.
Next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday January 13, 2025 at Noon.
This # of $ on hand is incorrect. I was sitting next to you in the meeting, and this issue was explained. The library does not have 9.5 million on hand, the entirety of the library is worth 9.5 million, both all items inside (books, computers, shelves, desks) and the property itself.
How much is the county library collecting in taxes each year? This year more than $900,000, they use a little more than half of it to keep the doors open and lit up 24 hours a day. Where does the other roughly $400,000 going each year? It is a fine library. The auditing company report is posted for all to see. $9.5 million. We just posted the story with what is in the report, what do you want?.
I want you to understand that the 9.5 million is not on hand money, it is the entire worth of the library as noted in the audit, where it says “Total assets”. This is not how much cash, which is listed in the section “cash”. I’d like this story to be updated with accurate information, like the fact that the audit was incorrectly cited in the original article.
It appears to me that at the beginning of the financial document they only have about $2.5 on hand after deposits but one has to realize the month in which this report was done. June 30, 2024. If I’m not mistaken, that statement is for the beginning of the fiscal year when money is put into the accounts.
I’m sorry but the Library does NOT HAVE OVER $9 million in the bank. Does your reporter not understand what the report says. That value included the library building, the computers, the books, CDs, DVDs and other resource materials. C’mon … start reviewing and verifying what your “reporters” are writing!
We just posted what the library board gave us. Read it, the story merely introduces it. You’re blaming us for posting it? C’mon…
How could this be? The library board voted to lower their tax rate. it was something like 2 cents per 1000 dollars. Im just glad Lawrence County is a wealthy county with a very strong tax base. Looks like its time for a new library expansion. The 90,000 per year for the past director was no problem. The new one should have 100,000 year.
Yes, you posted the report as sent; which is correct. The part that is false is the misinterpretation of the report. Your headline states they have over $9.5 million on hand. The report does not That’s called spreading false information. On 6-30-24, they only had about $2.5 million on hand.
You understand that is not how “cash on hand” works when referring to assets, right?
I suggest you changing the title of this article because it’s horribly inaccurate and really highlights the lack of intelligence that went into posting this.
Sigh.
It would be like living in a house that’s worth $400,000 with $0.00 in the bank and not a penny to spend.. and saying you have $400,000 cash on hand. 😂
Oooookay then.
Thanks Lazer for posting the info you have. Those attacking you are probably on the librarys payroll. The library is over taxing us all and most people in the county knows it.
I’d love to be paid by the library, but alas, I am a simple disabled veteran with the capability to read what was placed before me. If you cannot understand why ALL THESE PEOPLE are all saying “that’s not what this says” maybe that’s not, in fact, what it says, and not some grand conspiracy to rob the town of wealth via book buying. As it states in the paper on your screen currently, the total assets of the library, which includes all items within, and the property itself, is worth 9.5 million. The headline is wrong, apparently purposely so, as multiple people have pointed out this error without so much as an acknowledgement of the error by the admin. In fact, admin has doubled down, and supported the title of the article, in some strange attempt to push a false narrative. To whoever admin is, and the author of the article: your headline is not misleading, it is absolutely false. It is a lie. Incorrect, knowingly so. A paper of record, with any sort of credibility or pride, would change the title, and note the change was due to an error in the understanding of the paperwork cited. If you don’t, well, we can all see where you stand in regards to ethical reporting and/or behavior.
I’m wondering where you got the title of headline writer of the world. If you don’t count your house and property, how much would you have on hand?