MINUTES
OSKALOOSA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MONDAY, February 9, 2026 — 4:00 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING
The meeting was called to order by President Diana Pearson.
Roll Call: Roll call was taken by Administrative Assistant Gracia Ver Steegh with Trustees Brant Bollman, Tony Hughes,
Sam Mead, Scottie Moore, Diana Pearson, Minnie Richardson, Lindsey Thomas, and Wilton Wright at the meeting.
Director Gaughan was also present. Trustee Stanley McHawes was absent due to illness. City Manager Shawn Metcalf
was present. There was one police officer, one member of the press, one member from the Friends board, and 32
members of the public present in the room. There were also 10 members of the public standing outside the room, as the
room was full per fire code.
Community Comments: There were thirteen members of the community who signed up to speak during this section of
the Library Board meeting. Twelve of those members spoke up in favor of the Library continuing to offer the wide range
of materials in the collection and the services that they currently offer. One member supported drastically reducing the
funding that the Library receives from the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors.
New Business – Regular Agenda:
a. Discussion of Comments from Board of Supervisors Meeting: There was recently a request made by a
Mahaska County resident to the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors requesting that the County cut a
significant portion of the funding they currently contribute to the Library. The Library Board discussed the
comment and asked some questions of the Director. The Director noted that a presentation is given to the
County each January sharing what the statistics are for county residents, as well as how the budget is
broken down. City Manager Metcalf noted that the City is also under some deep budget cuts, as he had to
remove $300,000 from the budget originally presented to City Council for the upcoming fiscal year. The
Library Board members noted that the Library continues to follow the Library Bill of Rights and also
continues to grow and change with the times. Ultimately, the Board came to two possible options: do
nothing, or draft and send a letter to the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors.
Motion was made by Hughes, seconded by Moore, to approve conversing about the comments made. Motion passed
with 7 trustees voting affirmative and 1 member, Trustee Thomas, abstaining from the vote.
b. Approval of Action to Take with the Comments: After their conversation, the Library Board found two
possible options for action to take: Do nothing or draft a letter and send it to the Mahaska County Board of
Supervisors.
Motion was made by Mead, seconded by Bollman, to approve drafting a letter and sending it to the Mahaska County
Board of Supervisors. Motion passed with 7 trustees voting affirmative and 1 member, Trustee Thomas, abstaining from
the vote.
c. Discussion and Approval of Meeting Room Charge: The Library recently had a group leave several sticky
tables and two stains in the carpet in one of the meeting rooms on third floor. Per the recently revised
Meeting Area policy, the Library can now charge for damages to the room. Director Gaughan requested
Board approval to invoice the individual who reserved the room for the damages incurred.
Motion was made by Richardson, seconded by Wright, to approve sending the invoice. Motion passed 8-0.
Adjournment: Motion was made by Wright, seconded by Moore, to adjourn. Motion passed.
The next regular meeting will be on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., on the third floor of the library.
Respectfully submitted,
Gracia Ver Steegh
For the Board