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Library hours, Thola’s return among budget impacts
12/29/2010 9:59:41 AM
By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer
Beginning next week, new library hours will be in effect and a familiar face will be back at the reins of Trailhead Golf Course - just two impacts of the new calendar year meshing with the recently adopted 2011 city of Liberty Lake budget.
"We're just so relieved that we have a budget," Library Director Pamela Mogen said. "It's been a rollercoaster since August, but we're quite pleased (with the outcome) considering what we were looking at in the beginning. We're very grateful that the Council came to the conclusion that (it) did."
The library once faced cuts that would have reduced two full-time positions to part-time and operating hours from 46 to as little as 24. The adopted budget allowed for the two full-time employees to maintain their salaries and operating hours were reduced to 40. Still, the library faced a total budget reduction of about $110,000.
According to Mogen, the cut was felt deepest with a reduction in the part-time staff's hours by 15 percent. In addition, the budget for materials and books was reduced by $5,000, and many of the library's subscription services were eliminated.
Reducing expenses, however, recovered a portion of that cut when the Council decided to hold the library responsible for only 31 percent of its building's $56,025 insurance and utility fees. The library shares the building with the police department, but previously paid 100 percent of those costs. Advertisement
Under new hours effective Jan. 4, the library will be closed Sundays and Mondays and open Tuesday through Saturday at 10 a.m. Mogen said Mondays were traditionally the busiest day at the library, but in order to maintain Saturday hours, Monday hours were cut to allow consecutive days off for the staff.
"It was the most logical decision for us to make," Mogen said. "We're hoping Tuesday will become the new Monday."
Under the new schedule, Mogen said the public could look for more children's programming offered in the mornings and "beefed-up" Saturday programming with things like computer classes and book clubs.
In the adopted budget, the council also decided to move $106,000 from the library's capital fund to go toward street maintenance and street capital funds. Mogen said this is a growing fund that the city contributes to every year, to go toward facility projects and improvements.
"The biggest (consequence of that) is that we'll have to postpone the improvements to the entry," Mogen said. "That's all we had planned right now for projects."
Thola back at Trailhead
During early budget discussions, two full-time Trailhead employees - Golf Professional Mollie Thola and Golf Superintendent Ron Knudsen - were laid off for a seasonal closure of the course, with rehiring to be evaluated in the spring.
The finalized budget restored the golf professional position to full-time, year-round.
Mayor Wendy Van Orman said she spoke to Thola Tuesday, and her first day back should be Monday. She said Thola will open the pro shop at her discretion as weather permits.
Also in the adopted budget, the golf superintendent position was combined with the grounds superintendent following the recently announced retirement from that position by Mike Curry. The new position, parks and open space superintendent, is currently advertised on the city's website under the employment section.
Community Development Director Doug Smith said the full-time position would remain open until filled. Smith also noted the golf course would remain closed throughout the season, but the driving range, which never closed, remains open.
New library hours effective January 4
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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