[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6208059,"mediaKeyId","3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71","parentId",3749894,"title","St. Helens library board member Diana announces upcoming resignation; board seeks replacements","audioSeconds",241,"startMs",443000,"endMs",684000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71&start=443&end=684","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71/thumbnail_443000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6208059/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/St-Helens-library-board-member-Diana-announces-upcoming-resignation-board-seeks-replacements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208059-6c4be9351bc203580278c7332d04577b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588056&Signature=PT~koXDv1XBxz5ZNA-3lYod8C8dzPtJCGdwdyI~DMNh7XSsTUZvo0~Vr8jJkkV82L6OmnobfoV6j4BUek9FfUcJSfm7wNgocV7sa51rR~e-5x6q6H8VeHvChodkbydpfBNDIRTjyGEzgvnSzJ4ZjSfgQkVjmAMDKiWzRH2y2dBh06GiWW2ohs53Vm7TDXyglZphmwZ0Q0nF-pmfEUXQ-WoXJ0HqJTWSwQx8LdVstrM-zWVRoyHek~T6X-a7oALBUwEduJ8zrcc~9muUKp-VXRpL9VkS-BBW5ZspsBl4YKDszipcrF2PgNdUrdECbs6aGzkXizo9lSgVkgxtob8-c1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Helens, OR","date","2025-06-11T00:44:57.013Z","article","St. Helens — At the May 12 meeting of the St. Helens Public Library Board, board member Diana announced she will step down because she and her family are moving back into their home after a settlement with their insurer and she expects limited availability for board work.

Why it matters: Diana said the timing of her move and a job search will limit her ability to serve reliably; the board must know whether departing members will seek reappointment to ensure continuity and fill any vacancies before July 1, the start of the next term.

Resignation and timing
Diana told the board she had already spoken with staff and that she would not seek reappointment at the end of her term because of personal commitments. \"I will be stepping down. Not because I don't love the board and would like to stay, but because we have finally settled our lawsuit with State Farm and should be moving back into our house in the next couple of months,\" she said.

Transition and quorum
Diana said she would be willing to remain for a short period if the board needed her to maintain quorum while the board recruits or confirms a replacement. Board members were asked to let staff know by the June meeting whether they plan to continue for the next term; staff said July 1 is the start date for the new term.

Quotations
\"I will be stepping down. Not because I don't love the board and would like to stay, but because we have finally settled our lawsuit with State Farm and should be moving back into our house in the next couple of months,\" Diana said.

Next steps
Board members Jana, Diana and Rob were identified as having terms that expire at the end of June; the board requested that those members confirm intent to continue by the June meeting so the board can determine whether to solicit outside applicants or forward incumbents for reappointment to city council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","video1525802315","oneSentenceSummary","Board member Diana told colleagues she will step down after June because her household is moving back into a home following a settlement; she offered to remain temporarily if needed for quorum and encouraged others to indicate whether they will continue.","taxTitle","St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon","taxId",52788,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208064,"Makerspace donations, volunteer work and naming proposals advance at St. Helens library",2651,198000,2849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71&start=198&end=2849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71/thumbnail_198000.jpg","/articles/6208064/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Makerspace-donations-volunteer-work-and-naming-proposals-advance-at-St-Helens-library","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208064-1f0da0cf24f348f36f364aa69c5c749e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588056&Signature=UXGBfMuLnLYXaKI2tzX1Mwr8eYciUtMZF2Y4T2hpKMahA0Dblq3RXmmNVt~0LVGntbR3klU36bB4R1pkFcWaInj5NertbG8c6aHmy-MOdm5iTqjizrLsbpinG0m5LuqI3J-k3-oMRNIxOIL59fMDL8yQWLf3Yol9fcIZY4inOk9pi37HOwaexvU1M9psrzDfwGJ7r4aHZj-oP7PpAi5kwgewjPE0baSDpxTekAN-qpYtQa85SASuEYf~aNT36eGCRoo9BMR0oyTEzt7888p9WriRPHDQVVOpIOwh3ua7O3Houy33-asKyuFT28fvQbJQXyl6DA0WJp--ebbiqHAHPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Helens — The St. Helens library board on May 12 heard updates that library volunteers and local groups are contributing cash and in-kind services for the library’s makerspace and local-history shelving, and the board asked for proposed names to refer to city council for formal approval.

Why it matters: board and staff said the makerspace is growing and that donor and volunteer support is accelerating improvements while staff manage cataloging and program expansion.

Fundraising and donations
Board member Jay told the board his outreach to local groups produced two pledges \"for 750 and 250,\" and that he and his wife plan to add $500 in a private donation. \"So I'm, like, expecting a check for a thousand dollars, shortly,\" he said, adding that he and his wife will contribute to bring the total to $1,500.

Tax and receipting guidance
Library staff advised that donations made directly to the city are not tax deductible and that donors who wish a charitable deduction can instead give to the Friends of the Library, which can pass funds through to the city. As staff put it, \"It it is not deductible if they make the gift directly to the city.\" Board members and staff said they would follow up so donors understand the process.

In-kind support and makerspace improvements
Staff and volunteers reported in-kind commitments from vendors for flooring and plumbing and volunteer labor to organize tools and supplies. Library staff described new flooring, lighting improvements and relocated makerspace equipment (a Cricut and T-shirt press were cited) as items already moved or planned. Volunteers and staff have cataloged and prepared donated local-history shelving and are working through records: items with ISBNs were quicker to add to the catalog, while older local-history materials require more detailed MARC-style cataloging.

Local history room naming
The board discussed naming the Local History Reading Room (and possibly the makerspace) and asked for volunteers to develop a short list of names to bring back next month for a vote and referral to city council. One board member suggested a name linked to a Nobel Prize winner as an example; staff reminded the board that council approval is required.

Quotations
\"It it is not deductible if they make the gift directly to the city,\" a library staff member advised about tax treatment for donations.

What’s next
Staff said they will follow up with donors on the receipting approach, continue cataloging donated local-history items in the weeks before summer programming, and bring draft name proposals for the Local History Reading Room to the board at the next meeting for a vote and referral to city council.","Board members reported incoming fundraising and in-kind support for a makerspace and discussed new shelving for local history, volunteer cataloging, and a request to propose names for the local history reading room.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208069,"St. Helens library board warned of budget shortfall; 8-hour furloughs, fees and COLA cuts floated",866,772000,1638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71&start=772&end=1638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3749894-ab7955017c1126fe596e820d3737db71/thumbnail_772000.jpg","/articles/6208069/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/St-Helens-library-board-warned-of-budget-shortfall-8-hour-furloughs-fees-and-COLA-cuts-floated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208069-c8924548d831c69a4f0e18b3f84043a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588056&Signature=fNPeIS6DP~vU~e2zFvHmA-j71hvb50zk-NevRr2NIHVvqOFzfZ-~fzejC-eniAuo4iNuhXQHfQrzLPYnXdcUHm17B6e2YlUwEjnBCA1bHBYzkA-6REMG1IjiPK1bA3iTruw-RotUtm8gBPrVhjNehXU3M5js9XWM01RsGK3Fa7Of39VmWIH7EEbJ0rlAP6YHCWi6nfgsIJmdJ3ydomQYGolxUKOlMnDH~SV0gj1mT~l1w9Al5rlPfe84NLsWtYHQAuUx4QAlzpaYxcTnzarYNTxwUMRwebQa6iK0UtwmQcBqkZbdok66vRlbBQDfJWT7kh9xJH-cnGaw-wqzN4zLHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Helens — St. Helens Public Library staff told the library board on May 12 that the city faces a substantial general-fund shortfall and that options being discussed to cover the gap include a $10–$42 monthly general services fee for property owners, reduction or elimination of cost-of-living adjustments and an 8-hour-per-month furlough applied to all staff.

Why it matters: library staff said the furlough scenario would require reducing open hours, cutting several youth and makerspace programs and processing fewer physical items, at a time when library use has risen. Board members were asked to submit written comments to the city budget committee and to attend the budget meeting in person if possible.

City budget context and options
Library staff summarized information presented to the city’s budget committee by the finance director about a “substantial deficit, that needs to be, made up.” The finance director offered several options under consideration, including timber sales, across-the-board departmental reductions (with the police department exempted), a monthly property-owner service fee in the range discussed by staff, changes to the citywide COLA and furloughs.

Potential impact on hours, staff and programs
Library staff described the operational effect of an 8-hour-per-month furlough for each employee. According to staff calculations, the library would need to cut roughly 15 staff shifts per month, which they estimated would reduce open hours by two half-days each week (the staff discussion referenced Monday afternoon and Friday morning as the likely reductions). Staff said that under that scenario the library would have to cancel or reduce three programs, cut two makerspace “certification 101” classes, and shift more desk time to full-time staff. A staff estimate cited in the meeting put the monthly circulation of physical items at roughly 200 fewer items if hours and staffing were reduced.

Library usage trends and timing concerns
Library staff pointed to rising local demand as a complicating factor: visits were reported as up 30% in April compared with April last year and up 17% for the January–April period year over year. Staff warned that implementing furloughs on July 1 would fall in the middle of the summer program and have outsized impact on youth programming and makerspace activities.

Board response and next steps
Board members asked about alternatives and about the budget committee process. Staff said the finance director would compile written questions, public comments and other materials for the committee; the board was told that written comments for the upcoming budget committee meeting must reach the city by noon the day before that meeting and that board members could make in-person public comments at the council chamber meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday. Library staff offered to circulate contact information for the budget committee chair.

Quotations
\"There is a substantial deficit, that needs to be, made up,\" said the library staff member presenting the budget briefing to the board.

Board action and formal motions
No formal board motion to adopt budget measures was taken at the May 12 meeting. Board members were encouraged to submit written comments to the city budget committee and to attend the public budget meeting; staff said they would circulate the deadline and contact information.

What’s next
The budget committee is due to review compiled questions, city finance responses and public comments at its next meeting; the library board will follow the process and was asked to provide written comments or public testimony to the budget committee while the city’s proposed options remain under consideration.","City budget staff and library leaders told the St. Helens Public Library Board that a projected municipal deficit may force measures including an 8-hour-per-month furlough for staff, reductions to library hours and program cuts; board members were encouraged to submit comments to the budget committee.","actionData","errors"]

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St. Helens library board member Diana announces upcoming resignation; board seeks replacements

Makerspace donations, volunteer work and naming proposals advance at St. Helens library

St. Helens library board warned of budget shortfall; 8-hour furloughs, fees and COLA cuts floated