Hopkins District Library patrons don't usually

Hopkins Library Director Natalie Bazan recently sent the township an overdue notice for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

complain about paying a dollar or two in overdue fees.

Recently, however, Library Director Natalie Bazan sent out a notice for a much larger amount: $245,339.30.

That sum, which could pay the library's operating budget for two years, isn't for late books or DVDs; it's for insurance, utilities, and other charges that Bazan said are owed by Hopkins Township.

Last month, she sent the township a spreadsheet with amounts she said were overdue, dating back to 1989.

It included thousands of dollars in interest charges accrued annually. The interest listed for 2013 alone was $37,424.64.

"This has come as a complete shock," said Hopkins Township Supervisor Mark Evans, adding that the township did not receive any previous notices about amounts due. "We didn't have any idea."

The township leases part of the library building at 118 E. Main St., including a private office space and a 16-by-40-foot meeting area that is shared with the library.

In exchange, the township has been paying a portion of the maintenance, utilities, repairs, and cleaning. But Bazan said the township hasn't been paying as much as it should.

Bazan, who became director in August, 2011, said township officials recently suggested she might have been overcharging them. She began looking through old financial records, and that's when she discovered the past due amounts, she said.

"The library was looking into our lease to the township and realized it is very out of date," said Bazan. The agreements are supposed to be renewed every three years. "So, we sent the township a new agreement ... and bills for anything that wasn't paid yet."

A 1999 agreement, similar to older versions, was signed by Evans and former Library Board President Susan Sebright. It directed the township to pay for 25 percent of the total utility bills, cleaning service and contents insurance for its own office space, and 25 percent of the maintenance of its portion of the library building and parking lot.

It also included the provision that the maintenance costs were "subject to prior approval of the township."

Bazan said she later discovered another agreement tucked into a box of papers stored in the library. It is identical to the other one, but omits the phrase "subject to prior approval by the township."

Although it includes a signature by Evans dated November 14, 2011, it also has a signature by Sebright dated March 4, 1999.

When contacted, Sebright said she did not sign any agreement with the township in 2011, as she retired as library board president more than 10 years ago.

The township board discussed Bazan's letter and the spreadsheet at their regular meeting on July 18. Trustee Robert Modreske showed the board three different possible responses.

While they differed in tone and content, all included this paragraph: "As a board, we feel that the interest that has accrued should not be paid because we have no record of any bills not paid ... We must have a copy of the original bills before we can proceed."

The board is scheduled to discuss the responses again at their next meeting on Monday, Aug. 12.

Evans said he thinks the previous arrangement between the township and the library board should remain. "Very little changes need to be made. It's a pretty good agreement," he said.

Bazan said she and the library board members have not yet heard back from Evans or the township board.

"We still hope to work through our differences," Bazan said. "The library has worked hard to be a place where everyone is welcome and we are seeking to work together with everyone to help our community. We hope that we can put this behind us as soon as possible and concentrate on providing more exciting services to our community."