Menomonee Falls library patrons worry of closure, Village Board denies
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - The Menomonee Falls Library Friends group warned that their library could be closed. Village board members say that’s pure fiction.
For roughly an hour Monday, June 5, people urged the village board to keep the Menomonee Falls Public Library open.
During the board meeting, Jennifer Grandkoski read a statement from her 13-year-old daughter.
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"It is a safe place for many teens like myself," read Grandkoski. "I am vulnerable, and the library has literally saved my life. I talked about my struggles with depression and bullying and expressed how the Teen Center in the library helped me, how I met some of my best friends at the library and learned many new skills."
A Menomonee Falls High School senior, William Gottemoller, said his home internet was bad, so he came to the library to do his college admission interview with Harvard.
"I chose the library, and let’s just put it this way, the interview went pretty darn well, and now, I’m going there on a full-ride scholarship," he said.
They are just some of the people who use the Menomonee Falls Library and spoke on Monday.
"Do we want to be the only suburb without a public library?" asked Arlene Foti. "I am sure that people would beg to move here. Property values would plummet because a library as wonderful as ours is one important selling point to young families."
"My wife has checked out resources that have helped her and our family learn sign language, which has helped us communicate with our oldest son, who struggles with speech," said Skyler Ashby.
"The idea that one person should be allowed an education or access to books and another person shouldn’t just appalls me," said Jennifer Barnes.
"I strongly oppose closing the library," said 12-year-old Lauren Rottier. "To me, it’s a silly suggestion. I speed read, so if I read a book that’s this thick, I’m usually done with it at most a day. The library saves my parents, I can’t count how many dollars in buying me books."
Village board members said that wasn’t going to happen.
"I’m looking for truth and honesty, and we didn’t see a whole lot of that tonight," Trustee Steve Taggart said at the meeting.
""I have not discussed or planned on closing our village library. I use libraries as a resource for homeschooling my children," Trustee Katie Kress wrote in a statement.
"Sadly, the taxpayer subsidized Facebook group, ‘Menomonee Falls Library Friends’, posted false information causing much unnecessary concern to our community, including children," wrote Trustee Ann Lessila. "My family has enjoyed many hours in the library, including viewing our children's art work on display. Interesting that the Menomonee Falls Village Board allocated $1,826,500 to the library-yes-almost 2 million dollars."
"The Menomonee Falls Library Friends made a hair-on-fire Facebook post stating that the library was in danger of closing," said Trustee Paul Tadda at the meeting. "The quote said the village board is considering closing the library. There is no such consideration. There is no such plan."
In a post on Facebook, the library's official friends' group posted hours before the already-scheduled village board meeting: "Our library is in danger of closing."
The group's claims were based on an email from Amy Schlotthauer, the president of the Menomonee Falls Library Board of Trustees. The email was first obtained in an open record request by Grassroots Menomonee Falls Area, which FOX6 later also obtained from a public record request.
In the letter, the library board president wrote of Village Trustee Brad Jubber. It claimed he thought the village board would be requesting a book audit. In addition, the letter wrote, "Brad indicated that at least three Village Board Trustees are already planning on not funding Menomonee Falls Public Library in the future." In addition: "Another idea that Brad shared with us is that Menomonee Falls residents are affluent and can buy their own books."
Jubber countered the allegations, which he called a "hit job."
"It's been obvious tonight that I've been a little misquoted, and my quotes have been taken out of proportion and perspective," said Jubber during the Monday board meeting.
"There are no plans to shut down the Menomonee Falls Library. Currently, the library receives funding that exceeds all state and local regulations. And no trustee I know of plans to reduce funding or close the library," Jubber added in a statement. "It has come to my attention that the library board president has fabricated an email that misquotes and mischaracterizes me."
FOX6 spoke to the library director, Jacqueline Rammer, who was part of the meeting with the trustee. She said she also remembered Jubber saying residents were affluent enough to buy their own books and that three trustees were considering not funding the library.
If the library were to close which, again, village trustees say they weren't even considering, the county would tax the village to provide village residents services at other libraries. Right now, Menomonee Falls funds their library at 25% above the minimum to be exempt from that county tax.
Four libraries in the county fund at the minimum: Pewaukee, Big Bend, Delafield, North Lake.
As Menomonee Falls discussed the future of the library, the village board is making changes to the library board, the group that runs the library.
Back on May 15, the village board voted 6-1 not to renew three appointments to the library board: Peggy Haus, Ian Dickmann and James Heiden, who is the Menomonee Falls interim superintendent.
Two village trustees speaking about their votes to reject the appointees said they were upset with the library closures during the pandemic, among other issues.