All right, six o'clock.

So we're gonna go ahead and get started with this evening's uh study session.

Uh the first item is there anything on um the uh meeting agenda tonight that council wants to discuss any further before going on to the council meeting.

No all right, we'll move on to uh things under the March 2nd meeting.

The first we have a resolution, the financial contribution to the Historical Society.

Um Mr.

Althouse.

Thank you, Honor.

Oh, Mr.

Al Tuttle step up to the podium, and as he does, the city manager's office received a letter from Al Tuttle, who's our president of our Historical Society of Van Day Butler requesting monetary support for 2026.

Uh there is fifteen thousand dollars appropriated in council's twenty twenty-six budget for an annual donation to the historical society of Van Day Butler for maintenance projects and include the cost of an annual business organization or a organization membership.

And so the council take formal action to authorize said donations.

So I'll let Mr.

Tuttle just briefly fill you in on some of the projects that they're looking to utilize these funds for.

Thanks for as you got your list of the uh project we're going.

You can see that uh we well well exceed 15,000.

We appreciate your support in the past and we're you know, appreciate the support in the 2026.

The uh different projects um we just you know we have 12 buildings and eight and a half acres.

So we have you know a lot of maintenance that goes on, it's just continual from one year to the next.

So we try to plan for what's going on uh but things come up.

So this is we had a list we actually started last year and then held off some of the projects until this year, and then during that time some more came on.

So one of them uh you have the brochure, okay.

On the inside of your convenience, there is a map which shows the layout of the historical society.

Last year actually started a couple years ago.

Uh someone said they wanted to build uh an interpretive sign for the historical society.

And um, so as things went on, they finally backed out, but had gone through a lot of work to get the artwork done and everything ready for this, so we decided we'd like to go ahead and do that too.

So the uh one of the pictures in your packet was the uh the parking lot.

Last year we put in a new uh parking lot, uh accommodate four spaces.

It's near the log cabin and near the school.

Uh we've had the Christmas Eve program for three years now, and it's just really not any place convenient for somebody that's handicapped to get close.

So this way it writes right by the walkway so they can get in.

So uh it's been used a lot already with people coming by that take pictures, whether it's a prom or uh wedding, whatever people come in to get pictures of the different buildings in the uh on the society grounds.

So are there any questions about any of the projects?

Hopefully they're self-explanatory with respect to you know what they're um one of our first projects will be to do the uh steps at the log house.

Uh you know, it was it's been around for a long time and the it's showing its age.

So we need to get that done before our first open house, which will be on the 19th of April.

Uh others are just things that we need to get done just uh for example the interior in the federal house.

Um it's plaster and you can't find you know two off people that will work on plaster, so we have to get you know specialized uh company to come in and do that.

So just a lot of different things are going on and uh you know opened up if you got any questions about any of the specific projects.

Anyone have any questions?

I don't have any questions.

I would just I know a couple years ago the council discussed it as well, but um I think I would if council is of agreements to direct city staff.

Um as we get rid of surplus property, I would like to make sure that we're checking with historical society to make sure that they don't have a need for it before we put it on gum deals and make 500 bucks or 750 bucks.

Also, so like I mean, I mean I know we're getting rid of a couple of wildmowers from the golf course, not that they need that type of mower, but as we have proper or surplus property that comes up.

I mean, this historical society, I think would be beneficial to see if they have a use for it, even if it's a couple years before so they don't have to buy equipment and stuff like that.

So I don't know if anybody else on council has a strong opinion about that or against that, but I think it's something we should at least consider.

Thank you.

You probably noticed one of the items is a gazebo, uh, which we did give you.

You did get to us, uh, but it's been requiring some maintenance, so that's we we want to keep a good shape because that is really a popular, especially prom time.

Uh up there with their beautiful gowns and all dressed up in their tuxes and get up there on the the zebra get a picture.

So we want to make sure everything in on the property is good shape and uh well taken care of.

All right.

I just wanted to thank you because I know you could you and several others have spent uh a great deal of dedication keeping up the property and volunteering on the weekends.

I know I and several others have spent a lot of time visiting and learning there.

Um how I wanted to ask how is membership going and are we gaining any new or younger members uh in the community?

Not so much the newer members, you know, some but you know um at this point most of our are renewals.

Just renewal.

Okay.

We are picking up a few new ones, which is which is good.

And I think that's basically you know I I think I mentioned the council once before that when I took over like almost four years ago.