By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Kimberly Wiens, a former director of the Wellington Public Library, has been charged with theft, a level 9 felony for allegedly defrauding the library $4,464.36.

Sumner County Attorney’s office filed the complaint last week which states Wiens “unlawfully, feloniously, and willfully obtained by deception, control over property for compensation of 236.46 hours of vacation time with the intention to permanently deprive the owner, to wit: Wellington Public Library.”

Kim Wiens

The complaint said the alleged crime took place on July 31, 2013, which was also Wiens last day of employment. Wellington Assistant Sumner County Attorney Mathew Mullen said, however, the compensation in question occurred over a number of years.

Wiens, born in 1955, has been summoned to appear in Sumner County Court for first appearance on April 23, 2015 at 9 a.m.

A theft felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor, is loss of property valued over $1,000. If convicted, Wiens could face up to six months in prison.

Mullen said the charge came after a lengthy investigation by the Wellington Police Department.

Library board minutes obtained by Sumner Newscow from May through August did not specifically address the alleged crime. Board members serving at the time were Mary Long, Peggy Stanfield, Maria Cornejo, Stacy Fair, Barbara Mudd, Roger Stallbaumer, Kelli McComb and Barbara Loop.

On May 8, 2013, the board went into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss the annual director’s evaluation, and decided to take the evaluations home to look over and complete and return to then president Mary Long.

Then, on June 12, 2013 in a two-hour meeting including two executive sessions, the minutes noted that Long and Wiens were to discuss the evaluation process on a Friday following the meeting.

On July 17, with Wiens as library director, the board established a hiring committee to hire a new director with three applicants at the time applying.

On the Aug. 14 meeting, July expenditures were not approved until questions were answered concerning multiple line items including checks for $4,539.40 and $8,335.90. Then interim library director Lisa Vargas said she would assist in getting further explanation of expenses.

Then at the meeting, Sara Dixon, was introduced as the new Wellington Public Library’s librarian starting on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013. She has occupied that position since.

A WPL Library policy committee, which was formed separately from the library board, brought a list of recommendations which included:

•Two live signatures will be required on all checks. No rubber stamps will be used.

•Librarian will create checks from Quickbooks attaching all supporting documentation and provide those to the board president and treasurer for signatures.

•The two authorized signers are tasked with verifying the validity of checks with the documentation provided prior to signing all checks, including payroll.

•Normal check writing will coincide with payroll schedule.

•The four executive officers of the board will be authorized check signing and approvals. All need to go to the bank(s) to update the signature card.

The library board approved all recommended policies.

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