HPLD Board Reaches Settlement Agreement

February 6, 2017

(Greeley– February 3, 2017) – At a special meeting on Friday, the HPLD Board of Trustees approved settlement terms that will resolve the legal dispute which began in 2014 between the HPLD Board of Trustees and the Weld County Commissioners and five other Weld County government boards.

In April 2014, the Weld County Commissioners, RE-8 Board of Education, and municipal boards of Ault, Eaton, Fort Lupton, and Hudson, passed resolutions attempting to remove and replace the entire HPLD library board with their own elected officials. HPLD responded by filing suit in Weld County District Court to request an injunction to stop the board takeover, pending resolution of disputed legal issues. In January 2017, the cities of Greeley and Evans formally entered the case on HPLD’s side, and a five-day trial was initially scheduled to begin on February 6, 2017.

In mid-January 2017, Weld County District Court Judge Timothy Kerns issued written rulings stating that there was no evidence demonstrating good cause for the attempted removal of the HPLD Board. Then, on February 3rd, 2017, the parties were able to reach agreement on all other disputed issues.

“This settlement is a huge relief for all involved. We are truly thankful to have this behind us, so we can move forward focusing on providing library services that are relevant and meaningful to our community,” said Janine Reid, Executive Director of HPLD.

The HPLD Board of trustees now faces the task of replacing six trustee seats, which are up for expiration. HPLD seeks candidates for these six board seats. Interested persons can obtain an application online, or from their local HPLD library. For more information, please call 1-888-861-7323.