Eureka Historical Society Members Consider Blending With City

Eureka Historical Society's members are contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of remaining as an independent organization versus being commissioned through the City of Eureka.

Society president Bryan Kiefer approached Eureka board of aldermen about the subject at Tuesday's board meeting, citing that the topic was first explored during February 2010.

"We believe operating under the city's organization would allow us to be a more recognized entity and to apply for grants, which we need for website upgrades and other activities," said Kiefer.

"We see that the Eureka Park Board gets some unbelievable opportunities, and we'd like to do that as well," he said.

Eureka Mayor Kevin Coffey said there could be additional benefits to the society by working through the city when it comes to fund raising and insurance elements.

Eureka has four other 'city-commissioned' groups:  a Planning & Zoning Commission, the Park Board, a Board of Adjustment and a Tax Increment Financing Commission.

Eureka city administrator Craig Sabo acknowledged that the topic of the historical society commissioning had surfaced before, but he said they were notified by its members that they "wanted to hold off for reasons unknown."

The Eureka Historical Society already is a registered nonprofit. If transferred into being a commissioned entity of the city, Ward 2 board of alderman Marilyn Leistner wanted to know if society members still would be allowed to elect their own leadership.

Leistner also is a vice president on the society's current 11-member board. "Would we have to give up funds already raised as well as our bank account?" she asked.

Eureka city attorney Kathy Butler said the society's business would have to concluded, because a new entity essentially would be started under the city's direction. "Eureka would not be taking over the society's liabilities," she said. "There are a couple of options about handling the money. If it's already been earmarked after being raised for a particular cause or reason, it can stay associated with that. Or society members can choose to donate the funds to the city, with them staying earmarked for the new historical commission."

Coffey said the board would be open to the society being able to have separate bookkeeping and fund raising. Further discussion covered whether the funds could get co-mingled with other endeavors if the society's funds became a true city bank account. Prior years' of the society's fund-raising efforts were to go toward establishing a Eureka history museum.

If the 'merger' were to happen, it is possible that future and different Eureka board of aldermen could choose to use the funds in a new or unintended manner.

"We want to do something positive here, not do this and have something negative happen," said Shannon Britt, Ward 3 alderman.

Butler recommended that a city ordinance could be constructed and passed to ensure that money brought into the fold as designated for a future historical museum would remain earmarked for that purpose until a museum could be secured.

"We don't have any grant writers on our board—could someone from the city be available for that, if the society is with the city?" said Leistner. "Things need to be ironed out."

Those "things" can be summarized as:  what happens to the society's current funds; who controls the society's future direction and board members—its members or city's board of aldermen; to what amassed funds will be applied toward in future years, should the society be placed under the city's administration; and who would be available to write grants for historical society-related matters.

"The society has a rich history, and we just want to keep that going," said Kiefer.

The aldermen asked Keifer to discuss the various options with the society's members at their next meeting, which will be July 11, and then readdress the topic.