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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor 

NORTH SHELBY – The Shelby County Legislative Delegation has announced the new members of the North Shelby Library Board after House Bill 89 previously altered the board’s selection process earlier this year.

From June 1 to June 30, any resident of the North Shelby Library District had the opportunity—as long as they were a registered voter—to submit an application for a position on the library board.

After which, Rep. Susan Dubose, Rep. Jim Carns, Rep. Arnold Mooney, Sen. J.T. Waggoner and Sen. Dan Roberts of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation reviewed applications and elected five individuals to the new North Shelby Library Board.

“The newly elected board brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for their positions,” read an official release by the Shelby County Legislative Delegation Office.

The following individuals were elected to serve on the North Shelby Library Board after application and review:

• President Kasandra Stevens
• Vice President Paul Garris
• Treasurer Andy martin
• Secretary Rebecca Johnson
• Sam Gaston

The newly elected board members that were chosen by the delegation will serve until Dec. 31, 2026 or until their successors are elected. After which, the term of each board member shall be four years. In the event of a vacancy, the position will be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

The process of selecting new members of the North Shelby Library Board was changed earlier this year after HB 89 was signed. The North Shelby Library Board was originally formed out of convenience to serve the district in an unincorporated part of north Shelby County. At its original formation, the board for the library district was designated based upon public election which made the North Shelby Library Board the only one of its kind in the entire state to be based upon election and not appointment.

HB 89 was officially enacted on April 26 after being signed by Gov. Kay Ivey and approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill was introduced by the Shelby County Legislative Delegation.

HB 89 amended a section of the original 1988 legislation for the library district so that the five member library board is now created by the appointment of the legislative delegation rather than through a public election. The bill also added the requirement that at least one member of the board shall be an owner of commercial property in the district.

The next meeting for the North Shelby Library Board will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 4 p.m. at 5521 Cahaba Valley Road. Those interested in learning more information about the board and library events are encouraged to visit Northshelbylibrary.org.