From the TC Record Eagle - Committee recommends funding History Center

Committee recommends funding History Center

By BRIAN McGILLIVARY bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com | 

Posted: Friday, September 12, 2014 2:12 pm

Committee recommends funding History Center

The History Center of Traverse City could receive a taxpayer subsidy to help manage the city-owned Carnegie Building shown above.

TRAVERSE CITY — City commissioners will consider an initial $12,250 subsidy to maintain the Carnegie Building for the History Center of Traverse City and several other organizations that rely on the 110-year-old structure.

The History Center has an agreement to manage the city-owned building on Sixth Street and the more than 10,000 artifacts in the city's Con Foster Collection, but can't afford to maintain the building. Center officials notified the city commission it will give 30 days notice to end the agreement and vacate the building unless they receive financial help to cover costs such as utilities.

"We would prefer to be in the building and we have made significant investments in the building," said Steve Morris, board treasurer for the History Center. "But the History Center needs to protect itself. It does not want to default on its financial obligations."

Commissioners meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the Governmental Center to consider a recommendation from a committee of Commissioners Jeanine Easterday, Ross Richardson, and Gary Howe to fund direct building costs through Dec. 31.

Laurie Gabel, immediate past president of the American Association of University Women, told commissioners at their Friday committee meeting their decision will affect more than just the History Center. The American Association of University Women is among four nonprofits that rent office space from the History Center and face possible eviction should the History Center cancel the agreement with the city.

"The History Center has worked hard to make it a very viable, active building for a lot of users," Gabel said. "We struggle with why the city ... which owns the Carnegie Building, feels no sense to support it financially."

The Central Neighborhood Association also uses the building for meetings, and the city uses half the building for elections. The closure also would impact planned holiday exhibits such as the annual Festival of Trains and the rental of meeting rooms by other community groups.

City Manager Jered Ottenwess said it would be simpler and more straightforward to subsidize the History Center through the end of the year than take over building operations. He determined the minimum direct cost of the building at about $49,000 and recommended a direct payment of $12,250. He said the cost of the subsidy would be similar to what the city would pay to directly maintain the building.

The proposed payment amount will be based on actual utility costs and could increase, depending on weather conditions.

Morris called commissioners' recommendation "a good first step."

"Is it enough to cover all of the investment we've put into that building over the last two years — no," he said. "But is it enough to allow us to continue operating through the end of the year — yes."

The committee will meet every other week while it sorts out a long-term plan for the building's use and management. Commissioners hope to provide an initial recommendation to the full commission by mid-November.

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