City Council debates, then tables raises for library staffers

HARTINGTON — The Hartington City Council on Monday debated, then tabled a decision on granting raises to library staffers.

Library Board President Joan Brodersen addressed the council with concerns about the city’s decision not to grant the raises, even though they were recommended by the Library Board.

Brodersen said the library staff and Library Board are grateful for the support the city gives the local facility.

That support has helped make Hartington’s library one of the best small libraries in the state. The local facility is often recognized for its efforts by the Nebraska Library Commission.

The Hartington Public Library gets a lot of usage and is a very busy place with all of the programs being held there. This doesn’t happen because of luck, Brodersen said. It happens because of the excellent staff.

In its 2024 budget, the Library Board requested that they be allowed to give a $2-per-hour raise to Library Director Tami Anderson, who has served as the library director since 2001. The Library Board also requested a $1-an-hour raise for Children’s Librarian Kim Emanuel.

Brodersen said these two employees should be compensated the same way other professionals are compensated and the Library Board would be willing to take the raises out of the current $185,000 library budget, so no additional city funds would be needed to compensate these two employees.

“We’ve held fundraisers in the past, and have had generous donors in the past to help us do some things like put in new carpet,” Brodersen said. “We would be willing to find alternative means to fund some of our programs if we are given permission to grant these raises. What we’re asking for here would be revenue-neutral.”

Mayor Mark Becker said in speaking with the city auditor, it appears Hartington is already spending more on its library and library staff than other comparable cities.

Becker said besides paying salaries, the city is also paying health care and other benefits. The city is considering changing the health insurance plan, which could be a “significant cost savings.” If that happens, he said, then the city would be able to pass that savings on to the employees.

Councilman Colin Kathol disagreed with the idea of tying benefits to salary increases. Kathol made a motion to grant the raises, but the motion died because of the lack of a second.

Councilman Chris Bartling then made a motion to table any action on the discussion so the council could go into an executive session to further discuss it.

The Council voted 3-1 in favor of that motion. However, no executive session was called on the matter.

Council approves budget In a unanimous vote, the City Council approved a $6,330,000 budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The budget asks for a property tax request of $452,016 for the general fund and $250,000 for the bond fund. These funds will be raised with a levy of .66257 per $100 of assessed valuation on property in the city limits.