New library trustees wade into ocean of work

By Cherry Sokoloski
Fossil Creek Current

Some who worked hard to launch the Fort Collins Regional Library District are now working even harder to steer the new ship on its maiden voyage. They are among the new trustees for the library district, a slate of seven that was ratified March 6 by the Fort Collins City Council and the Larimer County Commissioners.

Mary Robertson, Bob Viscount, Robin Gard and Nina Bodenhamer were active with the library district campaign last year, which resulted in voters overwhelmingly approving the new taxing district in November. They serve on the new board along with John Knezovich, Shelly Kalkowski and Mike Liggett.

"All of us are very interested in being part of forming the district, developing policies and procedures," said Robertson, the new president of the board. "It's really an exciting challenge."

Robertson's mother, Jane Davis, was the city's library director from the mid-1970s through the early '90s, and Robertson noted that library funding was a struggle even then. "A library district has been on the wish list for decades," she said.

Other officers are Liggett, vice president; Kalkowski, secretary; and Knezovich, treasurer. The group has wasted no time hoisting the sails and heading into deep water. In March, the group held two meetings during which they elected officers, hired legal counsel and adopted a set of bylaws plus a budget for this year.

There's a good reason for the no-nonsense, efficient approach. By June 4, 90 days after the board was seated, intergovernmental agreements with Fort Collins and Larimer County must be in place. "The clock is ticking," said Knezovich.

The IGA agreements will spell out, among other things, how the library facilities and books will be transferred to the new district and how board members will be selected in the future.

Fort Collins has been reluctant to completely let go of the helm. Most city council members want one of their members or a designate to serve on the district board beginning a year from now, when Knezovich's one-year term expires. The council has cited Fort Collins' long history of running the library, its investment in facilities and its continuing connection in terms of contracted services as reasons for being involved on the board.

The Larimer County Commissioners, however, have been just as adamantly opposed to having city representation on the board.

It appears that the commissioners have an ally in one of the new board members. Knezovich, while avoiding a direct statement on the issue, said he is "already concerned" about board membership. He noted that his stint as mayor of the city in the '80s gave him a first-hand look at the operation of the Poudre Fire Authority, which has three city representatives on its board. "I know how difficult that arrangement has been," he said.

"The Fort Collins government will quickly realize that operations and future construction have been delegated to the library special district," Knezovich said. "Library services are no longer a function of city government."

The new library district is funded by a 3-mill tax on property within its boundaries. Knezovich said that tax is expected to generate about $7.7 million in 2007, and the board has authority to spend $6.5 million. The district boundaries include all of Poudre School District, with the exception of Wellington and the Red Feather Lakes area. Timnath is within the boundaries, and Knezovich said the board will accommodate that community's needs.

Meetings of the library district board are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for April 2, 4 p.m., at the Harmony Library.

Brief biographical sketches of the new board members follow.

Bodenhamer (four-year term) was chair of the city's library board before the new district was formed. She has worked as a classroom teacher and in the educational television field. She is also founder and president of Educational Media Services, based in Fort Collins.

Gard (three-year term), a self-described "young retiree," holds a journalism degree, served as a dispatcher in Fort Collins and worked for Northrop & Johnson Yacht-Ships in Florida. She and her family lived aboard a boat for 16 years.

Kalkowski (two-year term) is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. She has professional experience in setting up interagency government programs and also has newspaper experience.

Knezovich (one-year term) is a certified public accountant who has been involved with numerous community organizations. He served on the city council from 1981 through 1986 and as mayor in 1983.

Liggett (five-year term) is an attorney who has served on the Poudre School District Board of Education. Other civic involvement has included serving on the board of Foothills Gateway and on the Victim Advocate Law Enforcement Board.

Robertson (five-year term), currently vice president of community investment for United Way of Larimer County, is a former chair of the city's library board. Besides her extensive community involvement, she has worked as a marriage and family therapist and is the former executive director of FirstCall.

Viscount (four-year term) is a retired college professor. His community involvement has included serving on the boards of FortNet and the Larimer Chorale, as well as on the Northern Colorado Multicultural Corporation.