UPDATE: City Says Library Director Submitted Resignation After He Was Fired

Erik Surber had his contract terminated on Monday after less than two years as library director. He claims he resigned, but city officials dispute that.

UPDATED at 6:15 p.m. City officials have clarified the timeline of former Waukee Library director Erik Surber's departure from the city. The library board voted on Monday to terminate the contract of Erik Surber, who had been on the job since September 2011. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Surber disputed that account, and said he offered to resign before the meeting. After being contacted by Patch, Councilman Shane Blanchard, who serves as liaision to the library board, consulted with city officials on the matter. Blanchard says that the board voted unanimously to terminate Surber; the following day Surber submitted a letter of resignation. Blanchard said that the letter was put in Surber's file, but was a moot issue because…

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UPDATE: Waukee Appoints Interim Library Director After Firing

Children's Librarian Keri Weston-Stoll has been appointed interim director of the Waukee Public Library after the firing of Erik Surber on Monday.

The Waukee Library Board of Trustees has appointed the children's librarian as the interim director after the library director was fired this week. The Des Moines Register reports the board voted 6-0 during a special meeting on Wednesday to appoint Keri Weston-Stoll as interim director to replace Erik Surber, who's contract was terminated on Monday. Weston-Stoll is new to the Waukee library, after starting in March. She previously served as library director in Carlisle. Shortly after she was hired, she said her goal is simple: get children, young people and their parents interested in reading, and learning in general. Weston-Stoll earned her bachelor's degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, and received a graduate degree in library …

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Waukee Fire Department and Public Library to Receive Dallas County Foundation Grants

The Dallas County Foundation has awarded two grants to the Waukee Fire Department and the Waukee Public Library.

The Dallas County Foundation has awarded grants to two Waukee organizations. The Waukee Fire Department and the Waukee Public Library will both receive grants from the Dallas County Foundation this year. The foundation will award a total of $86,900 in grants for 2012, according to a news release. It has awarded more than $446,000 in the last six years. The Waukee Fire Department will receive $3,650 to purchase optical pre-emption lights for two ambulances. The new equipment will allow public safety vehicles to alter the traffic control systems at intersections if needed, ensuring crews will have a green light before they enter the intersection. The Waukee Public Library will receive a $2,000 award to be used to replace biography and …

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PHOTOS: Story Time at the Waukee Public Library

Diana Dunbar leads a story time Wednesday at the Waukee Public Library.

What to Do With the Kids to Get You Through Waukee's Spring Break

Waukee students are on spring break and won't return to class until March 26. What ever will you do until then? Here are a few suggestions to get you through the rest of the week.

Are you a parent? Does it feel like that 10-day spring break is more like 10 weeks? If you weren't one of the fortunate ones to hop on a plane bound for warmer climates and you're running out of things to do with the kids, have no fear. There are just four more days until the kids return to class. If you're looking for something different to do, check out a few of these suggestions in and around Waukee: Check It Out While they don't have their regular children's programming schedule this week, the Waukee Public Library is still open. Grab the kids and your library card and hit the stacks. The Library is open today, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Go For a Swim It…

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Rotary Club Change, Food Pantry, Chamber Luncheon and Spring Break: Five Things in Waukee Today

Here's everything you need to know today, March 15, and some other stuff, too.

1) Rotary Club Meeting The Rotary Club of Waukee will not meet at its usual spot this morning. Group members will be on location for a special project. If you're interested in joining the Rotary Club, the group will resume meeting next Thursday at 6:45 a.m. at the Des Moines Golf & Country Club in West Des Moines. 2) Waukee Area Food Pantry Services Waukee Area Christian Services Food Pantry is open today from 9-11 a.m. offering non-perishable food and personal items for those living in the Waukee School District or those with approval from local churches. The food pantry is located in the lower level of Westview Church. 3) Activities at the Waukee Public Library Looking for something fun to do for the kids today? Why not take a class at …

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Spring-like Temps, a Garden Club Meeting, Library Fun: Five Things in Waukee Today

Here's everything you need to know today, March 14, and some other stuff, too.

1) Today's Weather Today you can expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 78. Tonight, partly cloudy skies with a low around 56. 2) Waukee Garden Club Meeting The Waukee Garden Club will meet today at 12 p.m. at the Waukee Public Library. Among the items on the Garden Club are the Twentienth Anniversary Celebration and potluck with a program by Kerry Alvaredo. 3) Activities at the Waukee Public Library Looking for some fun for the kids today? Check out Playful Preschoolers at 10 a.m. at the Waukee Public Library. Playful Preschoolers is for children ages 3 to 6. It includes read-aloud stories, songs and rhymes followed by a craft. Babies and Books also meets at 10 a.m. It's for pre-walkers (babies approximately birth to 18 mos.) with a …

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Five Things in Waukee: Library Activities, Team Dinner, A Life Changing Class and the Daddy Daughter Dance

Here's everything you need to know today, Feb. 8, and some other stuff, too.

1) Activities at the Waukee Public Library Looking for something fun to do with the kids today? Check out Playful Preschoolers at 10 a.m. at the Waukee Public Library. Playful Preschoolers is for children ages 3 to 6. It includes read-aloud stories, songs and rhymes followed by a craft. Babies and Books also meets at 10 a.m. It's for pre-walkers (babies approximately birth to 18 mos.) with a caregiver. There will be songs, books and rhymes. Only one child per caregiver is recommended. There will also be a teen-sized Candyland game beginning at 3:30 p.m. today. All teens are invited to participate. 2) Girls Basketball Team Dinner at Waukee High School The Waukee High School girls basketball team will host a team dinner in the Waukee High …

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PHOTOS: Preschoolers Get Playful at Waukee Public Library

Preschoolers from all around Waukee have fun at the Waukee Public Library during the Playful Preschoolers class.

Five Things Waukee Residents Should Know: Breakfast, a Road Closure and Waukee Sports

Here's what's going on in Waukee today, Oct. 11, and some other stuff you might want to know.

1) Breakfast Before Business The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its monthly Breakfast Before Business event at the Waukee City Council Chambers today from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Please RSVP to www.waukeechamber.com/registration 2) Warrior Lane Road Closure Today through Friday, Oct. 14, the east lane (northbound traffic) of Warrior Lane between University Avenue and Park Road will be closed for the construction of the Warrior Lane storm sewer improvement project. The street will be open from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and again from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate the school traffic. If you have questions or concerns, contact the Public Works office at 987-4363. 3) Waukee Sports There are several ways to show your support for the Waukee …

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