End in Sight for Library Fiscal Agent Confusion

At its meeting on Tuesday, January 20, the Theresa Public Library Board discussed approving an agreement with the Town of Theresa for the township to become the library’s fiscal agent.

“The Town Board had its January meeting, and they pretty much decided that they could do the fiscal agent,” stated Library Board President Diane Steger.

“Last Thursday, I went to the director’s meeting, and I discussed it with Riti Grover, who is the [Monarch Library] System Director,” added Theresa Public Library Director Mary Alice Bodden. “She said that we can change it through the annual report easily, without having to do any other steps. So, this timing is good.”

The library’s annual report opened on January 22 and must be completed by March 31.

Director Bodden shared a draft agreement with the library board that would be included in the annual report. The agreement designates the Town of Theresa as the fiscal agent, lists its responsibilities, and outlines that the $2,400 cost of fiscal agent duties will be split evenly between the Town and Village of Theresa.

“The reason I put the $2,400 per year in is because that came from the town when they were trying to figure out a possible cost,” explained Director Bodden. “They understand totally that they need to show the documentation for it.”

Once the agreement is signed by the library board and town board, Director Bodden shared that she will update the DPI report for Monarch Director Grover.

“She’ll pass it on to the DPI, and then we’re done and over with that part,” said Director Bodden.

According to the agreement, the town assumes fiscal agent duties on April 1, after the first quarter. Library Board Treasurer Angie Anderson will continue to complete those duties until then.

President Diane Steger made the motion to sign the fiscal agent agreement with the Town of Theresa, which passed unanimously.

The Town of Theresa will discuss the agreement at its next meeting on February 2.

With the approval of the fiscal agent agreement, the library board also must change its bylaws to designate the Town of Theresa as the agent.

A motion to amend the bylaws was made by Kelly Gengler and passed unanimously. Bylaw amendments must be approved twice, so the library board will vote on the amendment again at its next meeting.

Library Board Matters:
• During her report, Treasurer Anderson informed the library board that the library received a $100 grant toward science projects from Morgridge Research. Director Bodden added that the grant was used for the library’s Science Fest week-long event.
• The library board discussed the preliminary annual report figures, which include circulation and programs. The library had 11,209 circulations. A motion to approve the circulation figures was made by Treasurer Anderson and passed unanimously. The library had over 3,000 people attend its different programs. The motion to approve the program attendance figures was made by President Steger and passed unanimously.
• The library board also considered approving the 2026 budget. Director Bodden inquired if the village and town had passed the library budget, as she was never informed it had been passed. After receiving confirmation of the municipalities’ approval, a motion to approve the 2026 budget was made by Jody Steger and passed unanimously.

• At the January 5 Town Board meeting, questions of library ownership arose. During the library board meeting, President Diane Steger shared receipts showing the town and village each paid $65,000 for the library building. The library itself paid the remaining $32,000. Director Bodden added that the library building is owned by the library board. President Diane Steger also presented a letter and village ordinance concerning the donation of the library property. The library’s property is owned by the village, but the land was specifically donated to the village for the purposes of the library. Part of the ordinance read by President Diane Steger says that the library board has “exclusive charge, control and custody of donated or appropriated . . . land, buildings, money or other property devised, given, or granted to or otherwise acquired by the village for library purposes.”