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West Bend library board approves contract with Wills for strategic plan
Summary
The West Bend Community Memorial Library Board voted to contract Wills to draft a multi-year strategic plan, approving a maximum cost cited in the meeting of $20,494 and asking for regular implementation updates; the vendor estimates a six-month production timeline.
The West Bend Community Memorial Library Board voted Nov. 18 to hire Wills to produce a strategic plan, approving the contract in a voice vote after discussion of cost, timeline and board oversight.
Board members said they wanted an outside consultant familiar with Wisconsin public libraries to compile the plan and produce a document the board can act on. The Library Director told the board Wills understands local library operations and recommended they begin the work soon. A figure of $20,494 was mentioned as a not-to-exceed price; the director said he had negotiated the cost down from that number and expected the final contract to come in lower.
"I think they said six months was their ... from the start of when they start the process to when they have the document," the Library Director said, describing Wills’ timeline from kickoff to a deliverable draft. Board members asked that the vendor include the city in parts of the process so the plan helps improve the relationship between the library and municipal officials.
Board members emphasized follow-through. One trustee said the board must commit to regular agenda time for implementation updates so the paid plan does not become an unused document. The director confirmed the contract would be paid from the library’s strategic-planning budget line and noted that taking an estimated $20,000 from that line would leave approximately $80,000 for implementation (as discussed at the meeting).
The board moved and approved the contract by voice vote without a recorded roll-call tally. The director said Wills estimated about six months from project start to a completed plan, with implementation likely starting in 2027 depending on scheduling and follow-through.
The board did not provide additional details about the contract language at the meeting; next steps are for staff to finalize the contract with Wills and schedule board participation in the planning process.
