City council gives money to museums, port authority
By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.comFact Box
Swearing-in, budget meeting
The newly elected Marietta City Council members for 2010-11 will be sworn into office at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, on the front steps of Marietta City Hall, 301 Putnam St.
A special council meeting to adopt the 2010 city budget will follow at 11 a.m. in the community building at Lookout Park, 801 Lancaster St.
Friends of the Museums and the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority received a couple of late Christmas gifts during the current Marietta City Council's final meeting of the 2008-2009 term on Tuesday.
All seven members voted unanimously to support a request for $25,000 from Friends of the Museums toward a $310,000 budget to operate the Campus Martius and Ohio River museums over the next three years.
"The museums are an integral part of our community, and it's a good decision for us to support this effort," Councilman Andy Thompson, R-at large, said prior to council's approval of the measure.
"I want to thank council for helping us as we worked on a solution for the museums, and we appreciate your support," added Jean Yost, chairman of the Friends of the Museums management committee.
The group took over management of the museums in October after state budget cuts to the Ohio Historical Society threatened closure of the museums unless a local partnership could be formed to continue operation of the facilities.
Earlier this month Yost and other Friends of the Museum board members announced the beginning of fundraising efforts to support the more than $100,000 needed annually to operate the museums.
On Dec. 11 the group asked council's finance committee to help get the fundraising ball rolling by contributing $25,000.
The committee members supported the idea, but some voiced concern that the museums would need another $25,000 next year and the city may not be able to contribute that amount.
In the end it was decided the general fund could support the request this year, but any further museum funding decisions would be left up to the incoming council that will take office on Friday.
Friends of the Museums board member Roger Hall said earlier this month that the goal is for the museums to eventually become self-sustaining entities.
Port authority vote
Council also approved, by a 5-2 vote, a $10,000 request to help fill a gap in the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority's 2010 budget.
Councilmen Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward, and Harley Noland, D-at large, voted against the request.
"I expressed some concerns about this request in (finance) committee," Vukovic said following the vote. "I'm concerned that we're now making grants to public agencies. I would like to believe that this $10,000 will make a difference for the port authority, but that's hard to believe in this economy. We should be putting this money into our own development department."
Noland did not comment after Tuesday's vote, but earlier in the month he said he felt the port authority, which obtained funding to develop a business park near Reno, would be in competition with other business park owners in the private sector.
Dave Haas, president of the SEOPA board of directors, was grateful for the funding.
"Every bit helps," he said. "We've had to make cuts, including slashing our (marketing) budget, because we had to pay our utilities and other bills."
Haas said that hurts because part of the port authority's mission is to "sell" the Washington County and Marietta areas in order to attract more businesses.
Councilwoman Kathy Shively, D-at large, said she voted in favor of the port authority's request "because I understand the urgency to close the budget gap. But if you bring another request like this before council again, I would suggest you ask for (Community Development Block Grant) funding."
Councilman Jon Grimm, R-3rd Ward, said he believed council had made two good decisions by supporting the museums and port authority.
"I look at these as investments and expect we will get a good return," he said.
In other action
In other business council unanimously approved:
An annual bill that allows any unappropriated income tax revenues obtained between Dec. 31 and Jan. 31 to be placed in the general fund instead of the capital improvement fund.
A 15-year joint Southeastern Ohio Waste Management Plan.
An agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to continue operation of a housing revolving loan fund program.
A resolution designating the Washington/Morgan Community Action Agency as the local public housing agency.
Legislation setting third-party billing fees for city fire department ambulance runs at $600 for a Basic Life Support run; $777 for Advanced Life Support I runs; and $976 for Advanced Life Support II runs. The ordinance also sets a mileage billing rate of $13.50 per mile for ambulance runs from the pickup location to the hospital.
Mayor Michael Mullen and the council members also thanked Councilman Randy Wilson, R-2nd Ward, for his service over the last two years. Tuesday was Wilson's last session as he lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Mike McCauley in November.
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boxerman
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12-30-09 8:41 PM
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this will give moon man more money to waste
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Darby1952
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12-30-09 7:19 PM
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Grunt, what has Mr. Jacoby done for us. Please name any big company's that have come to our area??
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Parrothead
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12-30-09 6:29 PM
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I have NEVER known of anyone who travels to visit historical sites that spent much money while doing it. In fact most that do travel to these sites do it because it can be done inexpensively. The museums bring in millions of dollars? In how many years? – 10?
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rikrab
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12-30-09 6:25 PM
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“a study several years ago” How many? Was it before the Great Recession? “money that simply creates jobs” Really? Those were the days my friends…
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Parrothead
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12-30-09 6:08 PM
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When are the TEA Bag people going to be protesting this waste of tax dollars? (Is that stated in a way that you thin skinned prudes won't censor and pull? Get a life! I am not the one who decided to use a tea bag as a symbol of your cause!)
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rufusone
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12-30-09 5:33 PM
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a study several years ago found that the museums brought several million dollars in tourist monies into the city. money that keeps people employed. money that pays taxes. money that simply creates jobs. it would be a shame to loose these historic land marks and what they represent to the cities economy. good move city council.
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Roscoe
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12-30-09 12:37 PM
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Gee - didn't take you long Parrothead.
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rikrab
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12-30-09 11:32 AM
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As I said before..."It would be pure fantasy to think the gods of city council will turn down the monetary requests from the big names of the Friends of the Museums and the SeOPA. It is simply political posturing. They have to recoup money for the giant business complex (outside the city limits) on the disappearing hillside along State Route 821. pioneerspirit.us/about" Cut, consolidate, and outsource jobs and services so the county can give more money away.
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UncleGrunt
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12-30-09 11:27 AM
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Thanks to Council for supporting the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. As far as Mr. Vukovic's comment that the City should invest in its own economic development department, it's a poor alternative. I don't understand Mr. Noland's position at all; he is usually the enlightened one on these matters. The City simply does not have the expertise or critical mass to manage economic development which ultimately extends beyond the city limits anyway. Grant writing and leveraging access to federal and state funds is one thing the City can do, but one should not confuse this administrative function with economic development. This is one case where the City is wise to support the broader effort through the Port Authority. Mike Jacoby is one of the best economic development resources in the State of Ohio. We need to give him the resources to do his job. If we do, his work will benefit everyone.
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Indian
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12-30-09 11:22 AM
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I was thinking the same thing. Things just do not make sense around town. $13.50 a mile, plus the service charge...oh my.
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