Residents urge council to review Pikes Peak Library District trustees after Rockrimmon closure

At the February 2025 City Council meeting, multiple residents criticized the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) Board of Trustees for what they described as a lack of transparency, inconsistent public engagement and questionable financial decisions following the closure of Rockrimmon Library.

Veronica Baker, a member of COS Reads, asked why a recent board meeting that discussed major questions — reserve levels, master-plan priorities, possible purchases and branch strategy — was not better advertised. “An important meeting like this should have been widely available and known to the public,” Baker said in public comment. She and other speakers said the board has harmed public confidence by closing Rockrimmon and then pursuing property purchases without clear public outreach.

Also addressing council, Kat Gale, chief legal adviser for Integrity Matters and Westside Watch, urged the city to remove trustees who fail to meet bylaws or statutory duties. Gale singled out one trustee (named in her comments as Aaron Salt) and said he had missed more meetings than allowed. She cited the appointing authority of the city and county and the public trust doctrine as grounds for removal, and urged the council to act.

Council members responded on process. Councilmember Hinsley told speakers the city and county jointly appoint district trustees under state statute and that the city is reviewing its own practices after discovering that trustee interviews and selections had sometimes occurred in private meetings. Hinsley said the city council and Pro Tem Crow Iverson conducted four interviews on Feb. 14 and that additional interviews are scheduled for March 5; the hope, she said, is to present a joint city–county nominee.

Councilmember Donaldson, who represents the area that included Rockrimmon Library, described the closure as creating “a library desert” in the northwest portion of the city and said the board declined the council’s earlier request to keep the branch open for a year while a sustainable plan was found. Donaldson urged stronger oversight of trustees and said removal is an available remedy when trustees do not adequately perform their duties.

Speakers also called for stronger trustee qualifications and better financial oversight. One commenter noted that the researcher who uncovered the story of Petty Officer Daniel T. Griffin used Pikes Peak Library District resources — testimony supporters used earlier in the meeting to advocate naming a bridge for Griffin.

No formal council action was taken during public comment. Council members directed staff and the council’s legal advisers to continue working on transparent appointment procedures, and to coordinate with El Paso County as appropriate.

Next steps: the council will continue interviews and seek a joint nominee with county commissioners; citizens were told they can contact the city and county to follow that appointment process.