AHS Lunch
I hope it won’t include a big “V” like Warsaw!
The Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver (AHS) bought lunch for me and a few other Culver citizens on Tuesday to solicit our opinions. They should know how opinionated I am by now… Lunch was appreciated, but not necessary!
AHS is floating the idea that Culver needs a Visitor’s Center and that this would be a good combination with a new History Museum. An opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I heard most of this presentation once before at the Culver Chamber of Commerce meeting in February. Both times I had to agree that a visitor’s center would be nice, but wondered if our tourist season is long enough to justify it.
One of the ideas I found intriguing in both presentations was including office space for various Culver not-for-profits. This could possibly help with providing personnel to cover the facility while it is open. Possible groups they named were the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council and the Culver Chamber of Commerce, but others could include the Lions Club, Kiwanis, Tri Kappa, Boys & Girls Club, etc. Providing some meeting space for these groups could be a plus for those that don’t already have a venue.
Another idea with some merit was to combine this with a new Town Hall. While funding could get tricky with a public/private partnership, particularly with funding construction, there would definitely be some synergy provided by this combination. A discussion should be held with the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce which became dependent on municipal support only to go through struggles the past several years when that funding dried up. (As if AHS’s current experience isn’t enough… They’re losing their home and capital investments in the Culver Union Township Public Library at the whim of a new library board.)
I was disappointed to hear about the lack of support from the Marshall County Visitors Bureau. Since Culver features prominently in their promotions, I would think providing some seed money for this project would be a positive move on their part. The initial reaction was apparently that they thought it was a great idea, but funding from them would be zero. This might warrant a discussion with the County Commissioners.
I still hesitate to join the crowd that says Culver should concentrate on being a tourist destination only. I’ve never been one who’s comfortable with all my eggs in one basket. Diversity would help our community and I will continue to strive for that through MCEDC. That doesn’t mean that I think tourism shouldn’t be a component in our community’s economy. It should. And if AHS can foster the creation of a new Visitor’s Center, I think it is a worthy endeavor.
George Duncan has been leading this subcommittee of AHS. If you’re interested in sharing ideas or volunteering your help, you can contact him at: gaduncan2@aol.com
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4 Responses to AHS Lunch
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By Alfred Nyby March 25, 2013 - 1:32 pm
From your article:
“(As if AHS’s current experience isn’t enough… They’re losing their home and capital investments in the Culver Union Township Public Library at the whim of a new library board.)”
They are very uninformed statements. How do you defend this editorializing?
By kberger March 25, 2013 - 10:58 pm
Alfred,
I don’t doubt that I’m editorializing, but I guess that’s kind of the point of a blog. I don’t get a lot of comments so I sometimes forget that I’m talking to an audience beyond myself. Enlighten me.
If I was unclear in my premise, my point was that AHS signed up with a different library board that thought differently. To sign up with another municipal entity that could have a change of heart through board changes could be foolhardy.
AHS invested significant money in renovating the Carnegie Library basement; much of it through Easterday Construction. (We renovated the room installing the wainscot, lighting, ceiling, carpet, etc.) I donated a significant amount of my time working on designs with their board and their Museum Consultant through that period. My understanding is that the investment they made in the space is the equivalent of “tenant build-out” and stays with the library. I also realize that AHS benefited from the utilities, security, etc. at no cost, but I admit I have no knowledge of what the equivalency of those items would be.
I have no doubt that the current library board is doing what they think is best. That doesn’t change my premise. There were two council members at the AHS luncheon that thought combining a new town hall with a museum and visitor’s center was a great idea. They will not be on the council forever. A new town council, 2 years, 6 years, 20 years from now may feel differently and a similar scenario could play out again.
I strive to be open-minded and informed. Let me know where I’m off base.
By Alfred Nyby March 26, 2013 - 7:12 pm
Kevin,
When you say that the AHS is losing their home at the “whim” of a new library board you are painting the AHS as victims and the Board as villains. That is uninformed and unfair. In 2006 the AHS and the CUTPL Board entered into the “Museum Agreement” granting the AHS use of the lower level of the original Carnegie library, approximately 2000 sq ft, at no cost. The AHS, in addition to rent, has avoided operating costs such as gas, electric, phone, water, sewer, trash, and internet among others which have been paid by the library. What do you estimate that the AHS saved each year by not having these costs?
I was not a party to the Agreement, but my understanding is that this was not intended to be a permanent arrangement. The Agreement could be terminated with three years written notice by either party. Also, further evidence comes from your August 4, 2009 blog entitled “Antiquarian Entrance.” You discussed a ramp you were working on in the museum, “… Part of the challenge is to create something that feels solid and permanent, but can be moved to a new location in the future without damage to the historic Carnegie Library.” It’s misleading for you to say that the AHS is “losing their home and capital investments … at the whim of a new library board” when the AHS themselves viewed this as a temporary location AND when considering all the monies they saved with the library covering so many of their expenses.
Finally, times change and the library can now use that space. In 2012 we had 70,000 visitors. Less than 600 of the total were visitors to the museum. The library has a need for work space, tutoring areas, meeting space, and storage. It was not on a “whim” that the Board moved to terminate the Agreement in October 2010.
By kberger March 28, 2013 - 1:15 pm
Alfred,
I looked up several definitions of “whim” to see if I was off base with its use. If you look at the definitions that refer to a whim as capricious or eccentric then I understand your objection. The definition that I meant with its use is “A sudden desire or change of mind, esp. one that is unusual or unexplained” which is the one that pops up first when I google “whim”.
My intention was not to disparage the Library Board, but to point out the folly of contracting with a public elected or appointed board that cannot commit a future board. I discussed this with some of the council members and the Town Manager after the last town council meeting and their restrictions are such that they cannot commit to a contract that runs longer than the remaining term of the newest board member. Thus a new election could create a “Sudden desire or change of mind” – a whim. No villains or victims were implied.
I realize that the decision to commit the room to other uses was not capricious on the part of the board that made the decision. They have done the homework to justify the change and have a clear goal. But I don’t believe the library board that contracted with AHS contemplated a change of use this quickly or they would have cautioned AHS about the investments they were making. The AHS entrance renovations was approved by the Library Board in 2009. The decision to re-purpose the room was made in 2010. That’s a sudden change in use for a facility such as the library whose life is measured in decades if not centuries. One board felt that having a museum and history room was worth their investment. The current board feels their investments are better made elsewhere.
You asked if I felt AHS benefited from the free services provided by the library. There is no doubt that they did. But I am confident in saying that those services come nowhere close to the value the library is receiving from the room renovations. AHS actually made the room more efficient by changing the lighting to energy efficient fixtures, adding insulation in the exterior walls and carpeting the floor. That is what I am referring to as AHS’s lost capital investment. My understanding is that all those things stay with the building.
Good discussion!