North Central Kansas Library System
Executive Board Meeting
January 29, 2026

President Moulton called to order the December meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Central Kansas Library System at 10:01 a.m.

Members present: Wendy Moulton, Candace Boardman, Nikki Plankinton, Alicia Paddock, Mandy Cook, Eric Norris , Judy Goodrich, Janet Ayers, Katherine Pope

NCKLS staff present: Sandy Wilkerson, Library Director; Deanna Defoor, Business Manager; Duane Mayer, Technology Consultant; Krystal Cooper, Acquisitions Assistant.

Consent Agenda

Cook made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the change. Pope seconded and the motion passed. Motion did not pass and was tabled for next meeting.

Financial Statement and Approval of Bills

Summary of Expenses for the Period Ending, December 31, 2025

Summary of Expenses for the Period Ending, November 30, 2025

Business Manager Defoor explained the December financial statements but stated that the statements were preliminary and have not been audited. Auditing is to begin next week and the auditor to present the final audited financial statements to the board at the March meeting.

In the general operation fund there were no tax receipts in December.  

Under operations, the $5,835 expense in marketing and communications line was for 1,400 Kansas Public Library Trustee manuals. The other library systems contributed, but we didn’t receive their payments until January 2026, which will be reflected in the January report.

Under member grants, the cost from the Collection grant line of $13,740 was for last minute book purchases by libraries as they use their remaining funds for 2025. Two late payments were awarded for programing grant and a couple of the technology grants.

Under materials, the downloadables show a negative amount because we moved $24,000 at year end so that state aid could cover part of the cost which is reflected under other income funds. $50,000 was transferred out of the operating fund into capital improvement fund.

Under the employee benefit fund, no receipts were received in December. Fringe benefits total $25,000

In other income, earned interest was $1,700. The interest rate is down to 1 ¾ compared to the 2 ¼ at the beginning of the year. At year end the capital improvement funds were just under $457,000

Under custodial funds or local funds which are held on behalf of the individual libraries and is used at their discretion to purchase books and book supplies is just over 17,000 of other libraries’ money. The total receipts received was just over $1,468,850; total expenses for 2025 was $1,515,000 and leaves an ending fund balance of $1,078,957.

Boardman made a motion to approve the financial statements. Pope seconded, and the motion passed. 

Staff Reports

Director Wilkerson included the link to registration for the State Library board meeting. She also sent information about HB 2410. HB 2410 is getting a hearing next week. Wilkerson clarified that it is the committee that needs to give testimony; she can write it and send it, but the decision has to come from the executive committee. Wilkerson also wanted the committee to know that there are 20 surveys still out. Those are due to the State Library on February 5^th. Jan will be going to Hillsboro and Solomon to help with their surveys. Staff met with Northwest Kansas Library System to talk about moving away from Verso. They wanted to know NCKLS experiences.

Hope is working with their city to get a waiver for state aid due to an error in the municipal budget. Herington Public Library did not receive the money they’d requested from their city in 2025. This was due to an RNR error that the city did not communicate with the library. The board met with the city manager and the mayor. Herington is moving into the shared catalog, so it has been weeded and the first data load is done. NCKLS is hoping to get them migrated in April. At Marion Public Library, Janet Marler announced her retirement, so NCKLS is likely to be working with Marion’s board to assist in the job description and job ads.

PWRL had elected Ashley Araiza to the executive committee at the annual meeting; she has since left PWRL. PWRL had notified Wilkerson that Judith Cremer will continue to represent PWRL, Cremer will need to be appointed.

Wilkerson revisited HB 2410. The Bill has Three Key points. 1. Removal of manifest harm statement—this is the state library board oversight in deciding if harm is coming to the system. 2. Reduction of the transition period from 2 years to 1 year. 3. Caps the mill levy to ¾ mill. It was decided that negative impact testimony be written. Paddock suggested Wilkerson write a letter for the board to add on to and edit.

Technology consultant Meyer reported that NCKLS is in the middle of eRate season which is discounts libraries get for internet. Meyer states that we’ve helped about 34 libraries file for eRate services. The bandwidth for these libraries is increasing. Most libraries can get anywhere from 60-80% discount on their internet bill. About 3/4^th of the library are on 365. Meyer anticipates that new computers will increase in price by about $100-$150 this spring. This is mainly because of prices in memory and hard drives in computers are increasing, which is primarily due to demand for services in AI.

Refer to the meeting packet for further staff reports. 

Committee Reports

Personnel Committee Reports-Paddock thanked everyone for participating in the director’s evaluation. The results will be sent to Director Wilkerson and a time to meet with her will be scheduled.

Nominating Committee Reports- All officers have agreed to continue their term. Moulton will be president, Paddock will be Vice President, and Cremer will be secretary.

Bylaw committee- Wilkerson sent a draft of a form that libraries could use if they have a concern or issue they want addressed by the executive committee. Boardman wants to discuss the form more in the bylaw committee. 

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business. 

New Business

Norris made a motion to reappoint the officers of the executive committee. Cook seconded and the motion passed.

Paddock made a motion to authorize Director Wilkerson to draft a letter on behalf of the board for HB 2410. Goodrich seconded and the motion passed.

Pope moved to appoint Cremer to the Executive Committee to represent Wabaunsee County. Cook seconded and the motion passed.

Wendy read the following for the GAAP Waiver:

WHEREAS, the North Central Kansas Library System, of Manhattan, Kansas, has determined that the financial statements and financial reports for the year ending 2026 to be prepared in conformity with the requirements of K.S.A. 75-1120a(a) are not relevant to the requirements of the cash basis and budget laws of this state and are of no significant value to the Board or the members of the general public of the North Central Region of Kansas and

WHEREAS, there are no revenue bond ordinances or resolutions or other ordinances or resolutions of the System which require financial statements and financial reports to be prepared in conformity with. K.S.A. 75-1120a(a) for the year ending 2026.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of North Central Kansas Library System, in regular meeting duly assembled this 29th day of January, 2026 that the Board waives the requirements of K.S.A. 75-1120a(a) as they apply to the North Central Kansas Library System for the year ending 2026.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board shall cause the financial statements and financial reports of the North Central Kansas Library System to be prepared on the basis of cash receipts and disbursements as adjusted to show compliance with the cash basis and budget laws of this State

Cook moved to approve the resolution for the GAAP waiver Pope seconded and the motion passed. 

Executive Board Member Comments

Moulton expressed appreciation for the reports that have been sent out for the state report. 

Adjournment

There being no further business President Moulton called for a motion to adjourn. Paddock moved to adjourn, Norris seconded, and the motion passed.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:55a.m.

The next meeting will be March 26^th, 2025, at the NCKLS office and via Zoom at 10:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________                                           _________________________________

Wendy Moulton, President                                                         Krystal Cooper, Recording Secretary