Library board agrees to let member draft grant-support letter for police station community room

The Cottage Grove Library Board on Oct. 15 agreed that a board member may draft and submit a letter of support for a grant to help fund a portion of the community room space in the village police station.

Board President (name not specified in the record) opened the new-business item and invited the person who requested the letter to explain the proposal. The requester said she had asked staff to request that the library board write a letter supporting a grant that would fund part of the police station’s community room, and that the space would serve as a public “third space” for teens, seniors and other community members.

The requester said, “I asked JP to have the library board write a letter, of support for the a grant that would fund, a portion of the community room space in the police station,” and asked that the board allow her to draft language and circulate it to board members for editing before submission. The requester noted the grant deadline would fall before the board’s next meeting and asked for the board’s permission to proceed.

Board members raised no objections. The board chair said no formal vote was required and that the requester could draft and submit the letter on behalf of the library board, with board members invited to help edit the draft before submission.

The discussion did not include a formal motion or vote; board members characterized the request as consistent with library priorities and agreed to permit staff and the requester to proceed.

Board members did not specify the grant program by name, the exact share of funding sought, or the grant application deadline beyond the requester’s statement that it falls before the board’s next meeting.