Mayor DeVries and the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Accused of Code Violations
Contributed by Kathy Kysar
Mat-Su Borough Code 4.40.020 clearly states that library board members should be active members of one of the library support groups or an active patron of one of the libraries. It goes on to state that at-large members are to be recommended by borough librarians and/or library advocates. The three individuals that Mayor DeVries appointed to the Mat-Su Library Board, and were approved by the assembly at the December 19, 2023 meeting, did not meet these requirements.
Those appointed were Karen Crandall, Adam Jenkins, and Chad Scott, none of whom are members of library support groups (Big Lake Library Advocates, Friends of the Sutton Library, Friends of the Talkeetna Library, Trapper Creek Library Association, and Willow Library Association) or were recommended by borough librarians or library advocates.
Karen Crandall was appointed to the Big Lake Member position. Without knowledge of what she was actually applying for, on her application to the board, under the item, “Board and Title for which I’m applying,” Crandall wrote, “Big Lake Library book screening committee,” above which an employee of the Clerk’s Office wrote, “Library School.” After she was approved by the assembly on December 19, she admittedly did not understand all the duties involved in her new position, believing instead that she would just be reviewing challenged books for the public libraries. Owner of the Garden Gallery in Big Lake, Crandall submitted her application to the board on December 4, 2023. She is not a member of the Big Lake Library Advocates.
Adam Jenkins was appointed to the Willow Member position for which another Willow resident, Sidney Bertz, had previously applied. Bertz application was received on November 22 and Jenkins application was not received until December 1. Bertz has lived in the Mat-Su Borough for 8 years and Jenkins has only been in the Borough for 2 ½ years. While Jenkins admittedly has no experience with libraries, Bertz does have experience as a library volunteer and youth mentor in Willow. Jenkins is not a member of the Willow Library Association, nor is he known to the Willow librarian.
Chad Scott of Wasilla was appointed to the one available at-large Member position and also, admittedly, has no experience with public libraries. He was not recommended by borough librarians or library advocates as required by the Mat-Su Borough Code. His application was also received on December 1.
This code violation was brought to the attention of the assembly during the public comment period at the December 19 meeting by Kathy Kysar, president of the Sutton Friends of the Library and Sutton Member of the Mat-Su Borough Library Board; however, the assembly still voted the new appointees into their respective positions.
Of the three newly appointed Mat-Su Library Board members, Jenkins holds a one-year term ending December 31, 2024, while Crandall and Scott both hold two-year terms ending December 31, 2026.