The Geary City Council agreed last Thursday to take possession of the Canadian Rivers Historical Museum from its current governing board.
Mary Hays, Cozetta Johnson and Tabbitha Kiener – Councilman Cody Wright was absent – agreed unanimously to accept the museum from the board despite concerns about whether the city has the resources to properly care for the facility.
The councilmembers ultimately agreed that the museum has little overhead cost. “And we can’t just let it shut down,” Hays said, “and just sit there.”
The Gillespie Building that houses the museum was originally built as the Bank of Commerce, the oldest bank in Blaine County. The building is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum includes many displays about the area’s history with themed rooms including a bank, post office, doctor’s office, and barber shop. It used to be open two days a week on a regular schedule, board members said, but now opens mostly by request.
Board members said they hope giving the museum to the city will inject new youthful vigor into the project and keep it alive.
The city council began Thursday’s meeting by swearing in Hays, the new Ward 3 councilmember. Hays replaces Craig Brushwood on the council.
Paula Reding, the new city clerk, was sworn in previously, though Thursday marked her first council meeting in the position.
During the meeting the council also:
• Received an accounting report from Linda Bourn as it prepares to finalize a budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Council members agreed they anticipate a bare-bones budget next year after tax revenues underperformed expectations this year.
• Received monthly reports from the police and fire chiefs.
• Agreed that, in the future, the city will begin enforcing its rules about charging per load for limb and branch removal. The city had not been enforcing its policy of charging $100 per load, covering the full cost of limb removal following the fall and winter ice storms that sent branches crashing across town.
• Discussed personnel matters during a long executive session. The council agreed to hire some temporary and seasonal workers while retaining its office staffers.
• Appointed members to oversee various city departments, and appointed a vicemayor. Kiener will serve as vice-mayor under Mayor Bobby Allen.
The council heard from Geary librarian as well, who said the summer reading program will be back in June.
“We didn’t get to have this last year because we had COVID,” she said. “So we are excited to be able to do it again this year.”
This year’s programs will include a banjo player, a petting zoo and more. The program will happen on Mondays in June in the Agriplex building.