Carol Stream Library Board Looks for Input on What to Do With Kuhn Road Property

Screenshot of entire Carol Stream Public Library homepage

Library may survey Carol Stream residents on land sale. (Daily Herald, 7/18/2013)

SYL vs. STL:   A final vote to approve a contract with ManorCare was scheduled to take place May 8, but the old board majority, led by former President Mike Wade, never got the chance. After Wade's five-person Support Your Library slate was swept in the April election by current board President Jim Bailey's Support the Library slate, the new board members — many of whom have expressed reservations with a sale — were sworn in two weeks earlier than planned.

Property purchase and referenda timeline:

2003.  The library purchases the Kuhn Road property for $750,000 with the idea of building a new facility there.

March 2004.  Two referendum questions rejected by the voters.

• Purchase $19.25 million dollars in bonds for the construction of a new building  
• Increase taxes to operate the new facility.

April 2005.   Referendum rejected by voters:  Approve the sale of $19.5 million worth of bonds to construct, furnish, and equip a new Library facility.

April 2007..  Referendum rejected by voters:  Approve the sale of $25 million worth of bonds to build and equip a new library facility on Kuhn Road.

Other Carol Stream Public Library posts/articles:
As I see it:  Up a lazy river in Carol Stream?  (6/25/2013)
The first regular meeting of the Carol Stream Public Library board of trustees.  (5/21/2013)
Voters take their library back from the Tea Party.  (4/17/2013)
Library board race grows increasingly bitter.  (Daily Herald, 4/3/2013)
Board punts on library building project.  (11/20/2012)
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

As I See It: Up a Lazy River in Carol Stream?

Or, alternately, does this pass the smell test?

Photo credit:  Wikipedia

Carol Stream library board hires attorney to review contract. (The Daily Herald, 6/20/2013)

The contract in question is with a nursing home company that wants to build a facility on library-owned land.

At its May 6th special meeting, the library board approved a motion to direct Susan Westgate, Library Director, to contact "local Commercial Real Estate attorneys" as the first step in this review process.

Minutes

The article goes on to report that the current board directed Library Director Susan Westgate to contact up to three law firms; she says she sent letter to McNees and attorneys in Wheaton and Winfield.

But wait a minute.  Here's how a portion of the amended motions reads:

...that the Board of Library Trustees approve interviewing up to three local Commercial Real Estate Attorneys to review the Purchase Agreement to the Kuhn Road Property...

In my dictionary or choice, "interview" and "contact" are two different words.   Not synonyms.

So....it there a miscommunication here or just sloppy reporting?

Whatever the case, I'm still a little troubled by the outcome.

Here are the connections of Robert McNees (website redesign, please), the attorney hired to do the evaluation, to the Carol Stream Public Library (website redesign, please) and to Library Board President Jim Bailey.

1. He backed Board President Jim Bailey's "Support the Library" slate candidates in the April 2013 library board elections  
2. His name appeared on a list of endorsements list used as "Support the Library" campaign literature.
3. He supported a series of failed referenda to build a new library.
4. Bailey admitted McNees is 
1. a friend, 
2. his personal attorney and 
3. attends the same church.

I repeat.  Does this really pass the smell test, Susan?

Other Carol Stream Public Library posts/articles:
The first regular meeting of the Carol Stream Public Library board of trustees.  (5/21/2013)
Voters take their library back from the Tea Party.  (4/17/2013)
Library board race grows increasingly bitter.  (Daily Herald, 4/3/2013)
Board punts on library building project.  (11/20/2012)
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

The First Regular Meeting of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees

Agenda (page 1 of  2)

Carol Stream library board gives president power to sell property.  (Daily Herald, 5/15/2013)

Excerpt:   The difference between new and old, new Board President Jim Bailey says, is that the board recommendation passed on a 5-2 vote Wednesday night includes the provision that any final sales contract requires the approval of the board of trustees. 

And, Bailey says, he will keep the entire board apprised of any conversations he has with realtors and attorneys — something he claims former Board President Mike Wade didn't do.

Other Carol Stream Public Library posts/articles:
Voters take their library back from the Tea Party.  (4/17/2013)
Library board race grows increasingly bitter.  (Daily Herald, 4/3/2013)
Board punts on library building project.  (11/20/2012)
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Mike Wade Now Free to Give His Full Attention to Chicago West Patriots

If this meeting takes place, Wade won't be chairing it.

Attorney says newly elected Carol Stream officials had right to take oath early. (Daily Herald, 5/2/2013)

And here Mike thought he was looking like a (lame) duck, quacking like a (lame) duck, and walking like a (lame) duck, i.e., one more opportunity to do damage to the library.

Excerpt: Outgoing board President Mike Wade had scheduled a special meeting for May 8 to vote on a contract to sell a vacant 7.5-acre site at 2N540 Kuhn Road, which was purchased by the library in 2003 with intentions of constructing a new library there. 

In an attempt to prevent such a sale from taking place, the five newly elected board members were sworn in Wednesday night — two weeks earlier than planned.

Other Carol Stream Public Library posts/articles:
Carol Stream Residents Take Their Library Back from the Tea Party.  (4/17/2013)
Library board race grows increasingly bitter.  (Daily Herald, 4/3/2013)
Board punts on library building project.  (11/20/2012)
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Carol Stream Residents Take Their Library Back from the Tea Party

LINK

New regime at Carol Stream Library, but old challenges remain. (Daily Herald, 4/12/2013)

The winning slate of candidates (and their vote totals)

• Jim Bailey (1,765)
• Patricia Johnson (1,758
• Nadia Sheikh (1,582)
• Bonita Gilliam (1,505)
• Edward Jourdan (1,495)

The losing "Support Your Library candidates (and their vote totals)

• Joshua Jeffrey (838)
• Susan Galle (1,073)
• Jerry Clark (912)
• Current board president and Teabagger Mike Wade (824)
• Justin Moran (730)

Other Carol Stream Public Library posts/articles:
Library board race grows increasingly bitter.  (Daily Herald, 4/3/2013)
Board punts on library building project.  (11/20/2012)
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Carol Stream Library Board Punts on Building Project

Kicked so high it's not returning to Earth anytime soon.

Or your children's children's future

Carol Stream library board votes to sell land. (Daily Herald, 11/19/2012)

Excerpt:   The library board voted 6-1 Monday to list the property with Wheaton-based Realty Executives, whose Realtors have previously estimated the land to be worth $1,897,000. 

The land was purchased by the library in 2003 with intentions of building a new library facility there, but voters rejected those plans in three separate referendums.




Other Carol Stream Public Library posts:
Quick turnaround time.  (8/2/2012)
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Quite the Quick Turnaround Time @ the Carol Stream Public Library

LINK

Carol Stream library considering firms for director search. (Daily Herald, 8/2/2012)

In our previous installment, Board President Mike Wade said the board is going to rely on the staff to do much of the preliminary work, such as looking at resumes and qualifications.

He also said that the library may use of a professional search firm and that the next steps would be discussed at the August 15th board meeting.

All of the above was reported in the July 27th Daily Herald.

Now, according to today's Daily Herald ("Carol Stream considering firms for director search"), Wade has already consulted with two search firms and has their proposals in hand.

As reported by Christopher Placek, Board President Mike Wade already has talked with officials from the two firms, who submitted written proposals to him.

Let's see now, the Board fired Ann Kennedy -- for a second time (didn't get it right the first time) -- on Wednesday, July 25th.  And yesterday, August 1, the Board decided to table a decision on which of two search firms to hire.  That's quite the quick turnaround time.

Which, for me, brings up a slew of questions.

When did these talks take place?  More importantly, when did Wade first contact the search firms?

Was there a written request for proposal?

Did the library board authorize Wade to take this step?  If so, when?  There's no evidence of this on any recent agendas.

Sidebar:  For Tate's take on "checks and balances", read section III of the minutes of the July 10, 2012, special meeting of the Board.

Anyway, here are screenshots of the two contenders.

LINK

LINK

Curious that Wade, who ran for the board in 2009 because he was opposed to "high library taxes and improper spending by Kennedy", seems so eager to spend up to $18,000 to hire a professional search firm.

Related posts:
Good luck with that!  (8/1/2012)
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Good Luck with That!

LINK

Carol Stream begins search for new library director. (Daily Herald, 7/27/2012)

Excerpt: Board President Mike Wade said he hasn’t yet talked with interim Director Mary Clemens about finding a permanent replacement, but the library may use a search firm to evaluate resumes and interview applicants. 

The board plans to discuss the next steps at its Aug. 15 meeting, Wade said. 

He said the board is going to rely on the staff to do much of the preliminary work, such as looking at resumes and qualifications.

50 applicants?

Related posts:
Library Director has no doubts her firing was personal. (7/25/2012)
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Carol Stream Library Director Has No Doubts Her Firing was Personal

Carol Stream library director: 'No doubt this was personal'. (The Daily Herald, 7/27/2012)

Excerpt: In 2009, Wade ran on a slate with DeRango and Jeffrey in opposition to what they said were high library taxes and improper spending by Kennedy. Wade got elected that year, and DeRango and Jeffrey two years later.

“Once Mike Wade got on the board and when Jeffrey and DeRango got on the board, I knew this board would have different dynamics and there would be challenges ahead,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes I would say the sky was blue and they'd argue with me.”

Still, Kennedy said board President Rob Douglas served as a unifying force among the differing views until he stepped down this year to become a DuPage County circuit court judge.

“I knew my job was in jeopardy when Rob left,” Kennedy said. “I saw the writing on the wall when he stepped down.”

Board President Mike Wade praised at Conservatively Speaking blog.

Related posts:
Do-over:  Library board votes again to fire library director officially, legally.  (7/26/2012)
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Do-Over: Carol Stream Library Board Votes Again to Fire Director Officially, Legally

Mike Wade, Library Overlord

Carol Stream fires library director in 4-2 vote. (The Daily Herald, 7/26/2012)

I suspect Ann Kennedy could have told him this had he asked.  Talk about "failure to communicate"! Board President Mike Wade called a revote after learning the board's original 3-1 vote that he was short a vote to fire Kennedy.

The action took place with the room packed with supporters of Ann Kennedy.

Interim Director and Head of Youth Services Mary Clemens makes her feelings clear.

Certainly doesn't sound like a vote of confidence for the library board's action.  What will Mike say?

One of the article comments notes that [a] grass roots organization is already at work to unseat the Board members who show open contempt for the library and who have already done such damage to the reputation and the daily operations of the library.

Related post:
Philosophical realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees.  (7/19/2012)

Philosophical Realignment of the Carol Stream Public Library Board of Trustees

Carol Stream Library board fires director. (Daily Herald, 7/19/2012)

The vote was 3-1.  The library board has 7 members.  If the 9 comments to this article are any indication -- all expressing outrage over this action -- we haven't heard the last of this story.

Excerpt:   In May, the philosophical alignment of the board moved markedly to the right, with the appointment of two trustees, Susan Galle and Jerry Clark, who Wade met as organizer of the Chicago West Patriots Tea Party. Two other trustees already on the board, David DeRango and Dominick Jeffrey, previously ran on the same slate with Wade, in opposition to what they said was high library taxes and improper spending by Kennedy. 

Many of them were outspoken opponents of earlier plans to construct a new library on library-owned property on Kuhn Road — a proposal that’s been rejected three times by voters. Kennedy predicted it’s only a matter of time before the board considers selling that land, which the old board voted 4-3 to retain.

War of words in Carol Stream library race.  (Nadia Malik, 6/5/2009)

Excerpt:  The race for four seats on the Carol Stream library board has evolved into a war of written words. The challenging slate has put up the red, "stop referendums" placards, which are plentiful in the area surrounding the library.

There's a downside to everything.

2009-10 remodeling project.

Wonder who's going to want to snag this director's job?