The Library

The library’s air conditioning waited on a plan to move it, its board turned over, its director left after a closed-door process, and the city paid top dollar to replace her.

By Adam Follmer ·

  1. Your prioritiesWaiting on a move

    While repairs waited, the city looked to move the library

    In six months the city joined a study of combining library services, raised developer interest in “a new library site,” and put off the library’s AC for a move.

    1. Dec 2024Council joins a study of combining library services
    2. Mar 2025Administrator raises developer interest in “a new library site”
    3. May 2025AC replacement deferred a year “due to possible redevelopment”
    4. Jul 2025Administrator: council will hire a consultant on “the library portion”
    5. May 2026Children’s-area AC unit fails; emergency repair

    More detail

    When residents got word that the developer wanted to move the library, “Save the Library” signs popped up across town.

    The city might sayWe denied the first HVAC contract because it hadn’t gone through the proper bidding process.

    The library couldn’t waitThe units were near the end of their life, and the administrator was holding off for a move.

    More context

    In July 2026 the administrator brought the board one applicant for a part-time maintenance job that was not sufficiently posted. While he has been an outstanding addition, the point is the double standard: the AC had to go through proper bidding, but the administrator filled this job without an open process.

    Source: council minutes, Dec. 17, 2024; Library Board minutes, Feb. 19, Mar. 12, May 14 and July 9, 2025, and July 8, 2026; Aug. 5, 2025 council video; developer’s PUD letter, Aug. 20, 2025; Resolution 2893.

  2. Your prioritiesThe library director “retirement”

    Why now?

    The library director “retirement”

    City administrator: inDirector: out
    Starts coming to nearly every meetingMar 2025
    May 2025Contract renewed, with raises
    Tells the city engineer to “hold off” on the library’s signApr 2026Asks that “everything go through the Library Director”
    May 2026Objects to the city attorney’s role; contract review proposed that night
    Handles the search for her replacementJul 2026“Retirement Agreement and Release”
    Named the library’s personnel officerSep 2026

    More detail

    Since July the library’s payroll shows $59,776 in separation payouts through Sept. 24. The minutes give no reasons, leaving residents to piece together why.

    Staff in the darkThe board held five closed sessions on her from June 10 to July 14. Unsure what was happening, staff didn’t learn officially until nearly five weeks later.

    The city might sayPersonnel matters are legally handled in closed session, and an agreement can be mutual.

    More context

    The $59,776 starts with $4,949 for “separation” in the July 3–16 pay period, then a $38,816 “payout” and $3,202 every two weeks for “separation,” still running in the latest records we have. The agreement is titled “Retirement Agreement and Release.” A release usually means giving up the right to sue.

    Source: Library Board minutes, Mar. 2025–Sept. 2026 (attendance; closed sessions; May 13, July 8 and Sept. 30, 2026); library payroll registers, July 3–Sept. 24, 2026; director’s memo, Apr. 9, 2026; staff and interim director accounts.

  3. Your prioritiesThe Library Board

    5 of 7Library Board seats that changed since spring 2025

    Musical chairs on the library board

    Five of the seven seats changed in 18 months. Four seats now belong to people who hold or held other city posts, and the school seat is empty.

    Sittingalderman2025Formercity clerk2026Formeralderman2025On fivecity boards2022Library Board, October 202620182025Next-door neighborsSchool seat, emptysince Oct. 8, 2026Holds or held other city postsIn each seat: year seated

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    The school representative voted against the board’s ICE guidelines, came July 8 ready to speak about the director, and missed the July 14 vote on the director’s agreement: no agenda reached her.

    Suddenly, a residency ruleOn Oct. 8 the mayor ended her seat six months early: she lives outside the city. She had served since 2015; he was “unclear” how long.

    The city might sayCity code requires Library Board members to live in St. Francis, and the mayor has to follow it.

    Which rule wins?State law allows two members from elsewhere. The board’s bylaws, revised Sept. 2025, say the school seat “need not be a resident.” City code, the city attorney says, requires residency.

    Source: city board roster (onboard.stfranwi.org, Oct. 15, 2026); Library Board minutes, 2025–2026; the mayor’s letter to the school representative, Oct. 8, 2026; Wis. Stat. § 43.54(1); Library Board bylaws, Sept. 10, 2025; county property records; residents’ and the author’s accounts.

  4. Your prioritiesPaying for the search

    $13,750for a firm to find the next director

    A far cheaper option was available

    Posting on library job boards ($60) and asking local universities to share it with graduates costs next to nothing. The board hired a search firm instead of running the search itself.

    $13,750Search firmcircle area = cost$60library job-board ad

    More detail

    The board picked the most expensive firm, but both firms stated they had never searched for a library director before.

    A familiar firmThe firm the board picked is the one that recruited Mark Johnsrud as St. Francis city administrator.

    More context

    The board set its own deadline: it wanted a replacement “as soon as possible,” and paid for speed rather than run the search itself.

    Source: Library Board minutes, July 14, Aug. 12 and Sept. 9, 2026; Sept. 2026 voucher list; WLA job-board rates, Oct. 2026; the author’s accounts.

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