9.a) Request from Washington County Historical Society ` ', � �
�. �� �. ✓
SCANDIA
Staff Renort
Date of Meeting: November 20, 2012
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
Re: Washington County Historical Society
Agenda Item#: 9.a)
Background:
Washington County Historical Society sent a letter to the City of Scandia in early October asking
for a $1,000 commitment for the Heritage Center in Stillwater. A copy of the letter is attached.
We discussed this at the October 23� special council meeting on the budget. Brent Peterson,
Executive Director, Washington County Historical Society will be present at the meeting to
make a presentation.
Issue:
Should funding be included in the 2013 budget for the Washington County Historical Society? If
so, where do the funds come from?
Alternative: Should the funds come from the 2012 budget instead?
Proposal Details:
$1,000 to Washington County Historical Society for the Heritage Center in Stillwater.
Fiscal Impact:
$1,000 from either the 2012 or 2013 budget. While there weren't any funds budgeted for this
purpose in the 2012 budget, it should be noted there is still $1,000 in the Council Conference and
Seminars budget. If no council members are planning to attend any conferences or seminars
later this year these funds could be available.
Options:
1) Use$1,000 from Council budget in 2012 to make a donation to the Washington County
Historical Society.
2) Approve the addition of$1,000 in the 2013 budget for the Washington County Historical
Society. The council will need to decide where to take the funds from since the levy cap
has been set.
Recommendation:
If the Council would like to make a donation, staff recommends Option 1.
�S
�II I(� l I
T U T� I ST C �T�
October 10, 2012
Gateway to Minnesota History
City of Scandia �_t.``-ti''ear= -- �- -_
14727 209�' Street North I �C�. 1 � ��1� ,
Scandia, Ivlinnesota 55073 , �
; ;
Dear City of Scandia: �'"-����r cr 1^'�'°'';
The Washington County Historical Society [WCHS] has reached a purchase agreement
with the owners of the building located at l 862 South Greeley Street in Stillwater. The
WCHS has a year to fundraise for the purchase price of$795,000 plus renovations cost
which bring the total to $1.5 million. We have embazked on a capital campaign to reach
our goal.
The WCHS is going to convert this building into the Washington County Heritage
Center, a center that will have exhibits, a research facility, and climate controlled for the
important artifacts that tell the story of the history of Scandia and Washington County.
There will also be a traveling exhibit gallery that will showcase travelling exhibits from
the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, the Minnesota Historical Society, and other places
from around the county. This will provide our local citizens and visitors with a variety of
different stories of history several times every year.
In this early stage we have received a pledge for$250,000 from the Margaret Rivers
Foundation as well as WCHS pledging$80,000. T'he WCHS recently received a
contribution of$50,000 from the Washington County Board of Commissioners and have
recently received a commitment from the City of Stillwater for$10,000.
The Historical Society is writing to the city of Scandia to ask for a$1,000 commitment to
this Heritage Center.
The WCHS will be requesting donations from all the communities in Washington
County.
If you have any questions please let us know. We know how much our heritage is valued
in Scandia as the WCHS has maintained and operated the Hay Lake School and Johannes
Erickson Log House in the community for more than 40 years and we look forward to
continue to work with you in the future on this project.
Most sin ely,
rent T. Peterson
Executive Director
Washington County Historical Society
1'O. Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082-0167 � 651-439-5956 - www.wchsmn.org