Commission: Library Board Followed Policy In Appointing Todd

The Crawford County commission on May 30 appointed Linda Todd to the library board, upholding a policy put in place last year.

Todd was approved by District 1 Commissioner Rob Cummings and District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast.

Presiding Commissioner Steve Black voted against her appointment.

Todd was one of three applicants to apply for the library board, along with Cathy Boero and William Phillips.

Black had motioned earlier in the meeting to reject Todd’s appointment, but failed to gain a second.

In appointing Todd, the commission upheld a policy put in place last year with regards to county boards. All county boards must submit reappointments 100 days prior to expiration.

The library board followed that policy.

Commissioners were questioned last summer when Tena Slovensky and Carol Lea, who represent the Steelville area, received new four-year appointments.

The library board gave letters of recommendation to both members.

It was a contentious summer for the library district in 2022 when a children’s book titled The Rainbow Parade was scheduled to be read during story time.

Threats were made to the library and the story time was canceled.

Board member Kyle Hofstetter tendered his resignation this spring, creating an opening for a new member representing the Bourbon area.

The commission discussed the appointment during its May 23 meeting. 

Cindy Redburn, a frequent critic of the commission, asked why Boero — who has librarian experience — would be rejected.

Redburn told the commission they needed to take the application “seriously.”

Boast told Redburn that the commission does take it seriously.

Members of the library board appeared before the commission May 30 to support Todd.

Redburn said that the commission needed to “take an active role” in deciding board appointments and members who control taxpayer money.

Asked if the board interviewed any of the applicants, Lea said no and information was taken from the applications.

Black asked members if there should have been interviews, but Annalee Williams said there were no instructions given by the commission to do that.

Black said he called the state librarian’s office and that based off the information he received, it was “odd” that the librarian who applied for the position was not selected.

After Black’s motion failed, he asked the commission how to proceed.

Boast said the board had followed the procedures and should receive the commission’s support in appointing Todd.

Cummings agreed, saying the board had given the commission all the information needed.