Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette PLDL Board Secretary Laura Repp, left, and Board President Sylvia Matthews, discuss the Hancock Library contract in a special meeting Monday. 

HOUGHTON — A power outage at the Portage Lake District Library did not stop Board of Directors from holding a special meeting to discuss and eventually approve the Hancock School Public Library’s contract and budget. The board unanimously approved the two items. Hancock Schools Superintendent Chris Salani electronically signed the contract Tuesday, according to PLDL Board President Sylvia Matthews said.

At Monday’s meeting, the board opened up discussion on the contract. It is listed as a nine-month contract up to March 31, 2027. Board Secretary Laura Repp and Trustee Joanna Chopp both asked about what happens after the nine months is up.

“Are we ready to walk away at that point?” Repp asked.

According to the copy of the budget received by the Gazette, the school district has allocated $70,000 to PLDL. $30,000 of it directly from the district, $15,000 from the Hancock School Foundation and $25,000 from the City of Hancockl. The other $14,432.38 is from penal fines and state aid.

Hancock Librarian Boni Ashburn said the library would be closed until funding is acquired through a millage. Matthews said she liked the idea of a millage and thought it would be the best option, rather than ask for another contract with Hancock.

“I don’t think we’d start another contract until a millage is passed,” she said.

Ashburn added if the millage does not pass it would be completely up to the school district what to do with the library.

The board moved on to a discussion about items in the contract, including what a board and district liaison would look like and who it would be. Matthews said PLDL’s Library Director usually is the liaison, but with no current director at PLDL, communication with the school district has been sparse.

“We’ve all been stepping up to the plate in lieu of no director,” she said.

According to the Board, the school district is required to have its liaison — in this case Salani — meet with PLDL under the contract.

One point of concern the board brought up was state aid and penal fines supplementing the budget. PLDL Co-Interim Director and Business Manager Fawn Lucero said the school district will front the money laid out in supplementary aid portion of the budget and will be reimbursed once PLDL receives the money from the state this summer. Trustee Will Cantrell said he is hopeful the school district will sign the short-term contract.

What is next?

Board Treasurer Tim Scarlett said the Hancock Library cannot run on a deficit under the control of PLDL.

“This is a minimally operational budget,” he said. “If a millage does not pass, we will not realistically be renewing the contract.”

According to Ashburn, a millage for this upcoming election would need to be submitted by August 1, leaving the Board, the school district and the residents of Hancock one month to figure out where the library will get its funding next year.

Matthews said she is hopeful people will come together and figure out the funding issue. Whether is be through the Hancock School Foundation, a potential Friends of the Hancock Library fundraising or through a millage.

“We will wait to see what happens in nine months,” she said.

Two millage possibilities are on the table. According to the Board and Hancock City Council, the library could either put up a millage to join PLDL (where the entire library district would have to vote in favor) or the school district would propose its own millage (where the majority of district residents would have to vote in favor.)

As of press time Tuesday, Matthews said she had signed the contract, keeping the library open for the next nine months.