Handling of Misconduct Allegations Debated at Kitchigami Library Board Meeting

Recent allegations against multiple directors at the Kitchigami Regional Library System were the main topic that sparked debate between the KRLS Board and the labor union during Thursday’s board meeting in Pine River.

Tami Beto, the tech service director at the Kitchigami Regional Library System, has been accused of racial, religious, and wage discrimination, sexual harassment, and of bringing firearms into the workplace, while Melissa Whatley, the KRLS Library Director, is being accused of tampering with the investigation into Beto.

AFSCME, the labor union representing the employees, was asking the board to do something about the two directors’ alleged misconduct during the board meeting and began with questions about their open data request for the investigation.

“I don’t know what you received, [but] what I got back is about 25 pages of redaction,” said Tom Bauch, AFSCME Council 65 Field Director. “There’s at least 12 pages that are just black. I understand data practices requests, I understand the Minnesota data practices law. So this was intentional, and I’d like to know who did this.”

KRLS Board Chair Tom Krueger said the board reviewed the unredacted version of the letter during a previous closed meeting. Bauch then questioned how the board conducted their investigation, alleging that the attorney the board hired didn’t talk to some of the victims involved.

“There’s been no further investigation of things I brought to you; I don’t understand why,” Bauch stated. “I understand the board decided to take the recommendation of the attorney that this was going to be the outcome of the investigation. All I can say to that is, is that you hired an attorney who was Kitchigami’s hire to do an investigation, and I can conclude that the outcome of that investigation was, more or less, predetermined.”

Bauch presented the board with a few petitions with more than 100 signatures as a vote of no confidence for Beto and Whatley. Another member of the KRLS board, George Deiss from the City of Wadena, questioned the legality of how the signatures were gathered.

“I asked our branch manager if this situation was causing problems. She says it is now, because of this,” said Deiss. “How did most people get their petitions? Did they walk around town, or did they use city property during work hours to pull people over?”

“They were gathered on people’s breaks and off time, and that’s legal and lawful,” answered Bauch.

“It is, but are you sure they all were?” asked Deiss.

“If you have evidence that they weren’t, I’d ask that you submit them to me,” Bauch replied.

Bauch sought the resignations of both Beto and Whatley, who were both in attendance virtually.

“Our confidence and trust in you is gone. There’s no repairing this relationship, and that’s evident in what’s happened in the last two months,” Bauch asserted. “Your employees are being inhibited from doing their jobs. They seek direction, advice, information from their supervisors, as they should. … They don’t get any response. It’s radio silence.”

Bauch and Krueger decided that October 9 or 23 could be when the union and board negotiates proposals.

Bemidji Public Library Branch Manager Sheri Warren spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, stating Director Whatley provided zero guidance and wasn’t in contact with either Bemidji or Blackduck libraries while the Beltrami County Board was voting to reduce the funding the county provides by 42%.