Pahrump Community Library
Minutes of the March 10, 2025 Meeting
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 10:03 am.
2. Members Roll Call
In Attendance: Secretary Kelly Green, Trustee Matthew Morris, Trustee Dee Mounts, Michael Runion Vice Chair, Chair John Shewalter, Michelle Nelson, Director Kimberly Thomas via Zoom, Julie Butland, Assistant Director Shanna Gibbons
3. Pledge of Allegiance
Trustee Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the Call to Order.
4. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT: (*Action will NOT be taken on matters considered during this period until specifically included on an agenda as an action item.)
Ann Underdahl – She stated that she would love to see the library rejoin the ALA.
Carolene Logue – She also states the library should rejoin the ALA.
Helen Schneider – She also would like to see about the library rejoining the ALA.
Ginny Okawa – She supports the ALA and the idea to rejoin.
Deann Franke – She also supports the idea of the ALA.
Karen Waldman – She spoke against the ALA and their benefit to the library.
Dave Ochenreider – He stated that he did not support the idea of rejoining the ALA.
5. Trustee/Director/Liaison Comments – This item is limited to announcements, brief discussions of public comments, correction of factual inaccuracies, direction to staff, or topics proposed for future board meetings. (Lengthy deliberation of topics not on the agenda is prohibited by the Nevada Open Meeting Law.)
Director Thomas - No comment
Shanna Gibbons - No comment
Trustee Green - No comment
Trustee Mounts – She thanked the staff for their hard work at the library.
Trustee Morris – He states he is confident in the staff and appreciates the hard work being done by the staff.
Vice Chair Runion – He states everyone is doing a good job.
Chair John Shewalter – He states the he is putting on the future agenda to nullify the idea of the bookmobile and to move the half million dollars back to the general fund.
6. Approval of March 10, 2025 Agenda (Non-action item)
Item 7 is struck as there are no emergency items.
Without objection, the March 10, 2025 agenda is approved.
7. For Possible Action: Emergency Items
There are no emergency items.
8. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to approve or amend and approve the meeting minutes for December 9, 2024, December 23, 2024, and February 28, 2025.
Vice Chair Runion makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes for December 9 2024, December 23, 2024 and February 28, 2025. Trustee Green seconds the motion.
There is no public comment.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to approve the meeting minutes for December 9 2024, December 23, 2024 and February 28, 2025.
The measure passes 5-0.
Break from 10:17 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. so that the library board and public had time to look over additional credit card backup provided by Assistant Director Gibbons.
9. Presentation: Treasurer’s Report by Shanna Gibbons for discussion of monthly expenditures and revenue for December 2024 through February 2025.
Shanna Gibbons went over the monthly expenditures and revenue for December 2024 through February 2025, as well as the additional backup for the credit card breakdown.
Trustee Green - No comment
Trustee Mounts – No comment
Trustee Morris – No comment
Vice Chair Runion – No comment
Chair Shewalter – No comment
10. Discussion and deliberation to approve or amend and approve payment vouchers for December 2024 through February 2025.
Shanna Gibbons went over the payment vouchers for December 2024 through February 2025.
Chair Shewalter asks for clarification on the Hotspots and what they are used for.
Shanna Gibbons explains that they are for the public to check-out and take home so that patrons can have WiFi in their home using the device.
The item opens for public comment.
Ann Underdahl – Ann states that as well as Hotspots, libraries also have more free services, such as State Park Passes. She also asks if there is a way that the library coordinates large purchases through the county. She specifically states the purchasing of the boxes.
Carolene Logue – She commends staff on the range of services provided to the public with being a rural community. She is happy that we provide curbside service and says the more services to the public are appreciated.
Helen Schneider – In regard to the credit card bill she is bringing her dishes here to do them (referring to the new dishwasher).
There were no comments from the board.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to approve the payment vouchers for October 2024 through November 2024.
Vice Chair Runion seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question.
The measure passes 5-0.
11. Presentation: Librarian’s Report by Kimberly Thomas for discussion on library activity for December 2024 through February 2025. Report activities include patron traffic, books checked out, books returned, fees collected, online story time, STEAM, internet use, website usage and materials added.
Assistant Director presented the Librarian’s Report due to Director Thomas being on Zoom. She went over the monthly stats and included the curbside service stats. She made comments that we have been busy entering new books into the system and also have Kanopy, and a new language learning service, Rosetta Stone. The website and downloadable library are also doing well.
There were no comments from the board.
12. Discussion and deliberation to:
a. Discuss the bid proposals received for Bid No. 2024-001 Library Flooring Replacement Project;
b. Award Bid 2024-001 Library Flooring Replacement Project to Nevada Contract Carpet, Inc. in the amount of $299,035.35;
c. Approve, amend and approve, or reject the contract with selected bidder;
d. Fund from Capital Improvement Funds; or
e. Reject bids and provide direction to staff on how to proceed with the project.
Chair Shewalter opened to public comment first before discussion.
Helen Schneider- She stated that this seemed like this is a lot of money and do we have it in the budget.
Chair Shewalter asked for board comments.
Trustee Green wanted to hear what John Shewalter has to say first.
Everyone on the board yields to Chair Shewalter so that he may speak first.
John Shewalter – He states that the carpet is over 20 plus years old and it needs updating. The library flooring needs to be done and the price will only go up, and it’s time. He replies to Helen Schneider that we do have the money for it, and it was discussed in the last budget meeting. The bid has been completed and sent to legal for approval. Chair Shewalter askes for Michelle Nelson at the DA’s office to confirm it is approved.
Michelle Nelson – Michelle states that Director Thomas and Assistant Director Gibbons both did an excellent job of getting the bid packet together even with hours of going back and forth with the purchasing department.
John Shewalter – It has been advertised correctly and it is time.
Trustee Green – She agrees with John and states that he has worded it well.
Trustee Mounts – She is in agreement to do the carpet and we have the money to do it.
Trustee Morris – He states that everything looks to be in order and he is all for it.
Vice Chair Runion – He fully supports the project and is on board. He states that he has thoroughly looked through the bid packet and it is one of the best packets he has ever seen.
John Shewalter – Everything is in place and if the board approves the library will be closed until the work is done. We will at that time have a reopening gathering.
Chair Shewalter made a motion to Award Bid 2024-001 Library Flooring Replacement Project to Nevada Contract Carpet, Inc. in the amount of $299,035.35 and to C) approve the contract with the selected bidder and to D) fund from the Capital Improvements Fund.
Michael Runion seconded the motion.
Chair Shewalter calls the question.
The measure passes 5-0.
13. Discussion and deliberation to approve, amend and approve or reject 1) Network Savants, LLC replacing the library’s computer hardware at a cost not to exceed $12,000.00 and 2) to pay from the General Funds account.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to approve the Network Savants, LLC replacing the library’s computer hardware at a cost not to exceed $12,000.00 and 2) to pay from the General Funds account.
Trustee Green seconds the motion.
Public Comment – None
Trustee Green – She states it is a good idea to keep up with technology.
Trustee Mounts – She supports what we need.
Trustee Morris – No comment
Vice Chair Runion – No comment
Chair Shewalter calls the question.
The measure passes 5-0.
14. Discussion and deliberation to approve, amend and approve or reject 1) the Library Director replacing the library’s interior furnishings at a cost not to exceed $45,000, and 2) to pay from the General Funds account
Chair Shewalter made a motion to approve 1) the Library Director replacing the library’s interior furnishings at a cost not to exceed $45,000, and 2) to pay from the General Funds account.
Vice Chair Runion seconded the motion.
Public Comment – None
Trustee Green – Which furnishings are to be replaced and that she agrees that some of them do need replacing.
Shanna Gibbons – She explained that it would be the public seating as well as some of the staff furniture as well.
Trustee Mounts – Support for padding on the new chairs.
Trustee Morris – No comment
Vice Chair Runion – Needs updated, let’s do it.
Chair Shewalter – He states he wrote the item for the amount of $45,000 to give us plenty of room to get what we needed.
Chair Shewalter calls the question.
The measure passes 5-0.
15. Trustee/Director/Liaison Comments: - This item is limited to announcements, brief discussions of public comments, correction of factual inaccuracies, direction to staff, or topics proposed for future board meetings. (Lengthy deliberation of topics not on the agenda is prohibited by the Nevada Open Meeting Law.)
Director Thomas – She states that she is really excited to get all of the flooring done, new computers, and furniture and can’t wait until it’s done.
Assistant Director Gibbons - Congratulations to Nevada Contract Carpet on getting the job.
Trustee Green – She commented on library promotion that we my use additional ways to get the word out about our programs.
Trustee Mounts – She was pleased to see that the Pahrump Life Magazine and the Pahrump Valley Times both did articles on the library.
Trustee Morris – No comment
Trustee Runion – He stated that himself and Dee both have podcasts that could possibly to an interview for the library. He also states that he would like to have any information he could about the ALA be sent to his library email and that he would take a look at it.
Chair Shewalter – Regarding the ALA topic, he states that he is open to discussion to have the ALA put back on the agenda for review and he invites the public to send info via email to him, as well as to all of the board members so that they may give them time to look it over.
Michelle Nelson – She states as a reminder for anyone who sends an email to the board members send them separately so that no one mistakenly “replies all” to the emails and violates open meeting law.
Chair Shewalter – He asks that anyone wanting to send an email, to send it to Director Thomas or Assistant Director Gibbons so that it can be passed on accordingly. He also states that the regular board meetings will be suspended until the library opens in probably May or June.
16. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 am.