Executive Committee meeting summary - August 27, 2026

The Hennepin County Library Board met on August 27, 2026, at Ridgedale Library, Robert H. Rohlf Room, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka.

Attendees

Present: Lynn Stetler (Chair), Erin Brudvik, Kimberly Connolly, Amal Karim, Jessica Kraft

Other Library Board Members Present: None

Hennepin County Staff: Scott Duimstra, Lillian Albrecht, Amy McNally

Welcome and Call to Order

Chair Lynn Stetler called the Executive Committee meeting of August 27, 2026, to order at 5:30 p.m. and welcomed all in attendance.

Attendance of Library Board Members

Library Board Clerk Lillian Albrecht took the roll call. The Board met the quorum with five members present.

Approval of Agenda

Motion: Connolly
Second: Kraft
Motion passed.

Approval of May 27, 2026, Meeting Minutes

Motion: Kraft
Second: Connolly
Motion passed.

2027 Budget Presentation

Director Scott Duimstra provided a high level overview of the library’s current budget dilemmas, describing how the situation occurred and all other possible reductions were explored before proposing the tentative hours reduction for 2027. He shared the avenues for giving feedback to County Commissioners. Stetler and other members encouraged each other to advocate for the library and discussed talking points to use in conversations with officials.

The committee discussed whether to endorse the proposed budget during the September Board meeting. They felt comfortable not endorsing the current budget, with the knowledge that their endorsement can be reobtained if hours funding is restored. The full Board will discuss this item further in September.

June 17, 2026, Board Meeting Agenda

The committee reviewed and edited the draft agenda. They discussed having Commissioner Goettel attend and provide a dialogue with the Board now that Commissioner Anderson is unable to attend. The committee anticipates much discussion on the 2027 budget and elected to move the staff dialogue earlier in the meeting to ensure presenters have ample time. Finally, they checked in regarding the policies discussed at previous Board meetings, requesting the clerk double check previously tabled policies have been reviewed.

Adjourn

There being no further business, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 6:28 p.m.

Motion: Karim
Second: Brudvik
Motion passed.