Corbin Library Board approves budget, hires new interim director

The Corbin Public Library has a new interim director and a new budget.

At a special called meeting of the library board Tuesday afternoon, but the board voted 4-0 to offer the position of interim director to Anna Cummins Smith.

Board Chair Brenda Jones recommended Smith to replace outgoing Interim Director Healther Croley Fore, who tendered her resignation earlier this month.

“She has done an outstanding job of organizing our history room. She has a background in library science. She has a degree in library science,” Jones said.

Jones said the one issue Smith may have is that she lives in Somerset and would be commuting to Corbin to work.

“I think it is a good idea. I would put her at number one,” said Board Member Anne Hoskins.

Board Member Rob Miller said he has spoken with Smith and that she is willing to take the position.

However, Miller said Smith is not interested in the position on a full-time basis.

“She said her extreme length would be five months,” Miller said. “She wants to be done by the end October.”

“Let’s call her today,” Hoskins replied.

Smith said Tuesday night that she had not been formally offered the position but that she is willing to accept it.

“It is exciting to me,” Smith said.

The board voted to authorize a pay rate of $20 per hour with a maximum of 40 hours per week.

The board members agreed that along with the maximum number of hours, there should be a minimum number of hours per week.

“I think she is going to want to work a lot at the beginning until she gets things kind of on an even keel,” Miller said of Smith.

“I know she has other things she is involved in,” Miller added.

“Let her set her own hours,” Hoskins said. “Let her start and see what it is going to take.”

Jones said there would be other staff members appointed to do some of the things that Fore had taken upon herself.

The board approved the promotion of Joe White to be assistant director.

“You have really opened up and been very helpful and your suggestions have been outstanding,” Jones told White, who was at the meeting. “You have just been very encouraging.”

“I don’t see much of a choice anyway,” White told the board in accepting the position.

The board approved a $100 monthly stipend for White and offered to revisit his hourly rate when the new budget goes into effect.

“We are hopeful that you will remain the technology person as well,” Miller said. “Cause I think you are the only one really capable of doing that.”

The board is still awaiting word from the Whitley County Public Library Board on whether it will accept the new contract laying out the division of the Whitley County Library Tax revenue.

The Whitley County Library Board has been withholding the 25 percent of the tax revenue that has helped to fund the Corbin Library following a series of allegations against the Corbin board in November.

The Kentucky Attorney General has since ruled that the Corbin Library Board did not act maliciously concerning meeting access, notification and the keeping of minutes. The Corbin board has made changes to ensure it follows proper procedure regarding meetings.

While the agreement over dividing the revenue dates back to 1962, the only place it was spelled out was on a one-page handwritten agreement.

The boards agreed to work out a formal contract detailing how the funds were to be divided and when the funds are to be dispersed.

The original contract was approved by the Whitley County board in January. The Corbin Library board approved it with several revisions in April. The Whitley County board took the revised contract under advisement in order for the board attorney to review the changes.

The Whitley County Board will meet again Thursday.

Based on weather or not the contract is approved, the Corbin Library Board approved two different budgets.

The difference in the two budgets is $170,000.

The budget without the Whitley County funds includes $45,000 for the mortgage, $60,000 for the director and one employee and $21,200 for utilities and insurance. It also includes just $500 for programs, $250 for library supplies and $3,500 for books

“We are hopeful that budget will never happen,” Miller said. “It is going to be keep the lights on, pay the mortgage and keep the doors open and that’s about it.”

The second budget, totaling $307,500, which includes the Whitley County tax funds, includes $1,000 for programs, $10,000 for books, $5,000 for software-technology and $5,000 for upkeep and repairs.

Whitley County Library Director Greg Meadors said the Corbin’s portion of the library tax revenue is being held in escrow until the contract is finalized and the money will be released when that occurs.