My 4^th promise to my neighbors in District 3 relates to the History Center.  I promise that, as long as the History Center remains committed to working towards significantly decreasing their reliance on County Funding, I will be an ally in supporting them and their efforts.

As some background information, Chairman Gundrum formed the Quasi-Governmental Agency Committee.  He gave it the goal of working with the Economic Development Washington County (EDWC),  the Washington County Visitor’s Bureau, the Agricultural and Industrial Society (AIS) which runs the County Fair Park, and the History Center.  Because of my interest in History and the History Center, Chairman Gundrum asked me to join the Committee.

In February, the EDWC came back to us with a plan, which we approved, which enabled them to become fully self-sufficient.  They developed the plan, tested it, explained the risks and what they were doing to mitigate the risks, and how it would benefit both the EDWC and the County.  All we had to do on the Committee was approve their plan, which we did.  Christian Tscheschlok and his team have always been consummate professionals, and they have always impressed me.

At the same meeting, the History Center spoke about their efforts.  County Administrator Joshua Schoemann summarized their report this way:

The Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) also presented to the committee regarding the initial findings of a feasibility study they did for their organization and the future of the Old Courthouse Museum.  They indicated to the committee that this study proved to them that it is feasible to investigate a strategic reframing of the organization, directed toward a new relationship with the County.   WCHS also laid out a rough timeline for the next step in the process, developing their Strategic Plan which will help to create a proposal for working toward financial independence for the ad hoc committee’s consideration.

Everyone on the committee had gone into this assignment believing that the History Center might be our toughest challenge.  We were all surprised and impressed to see that the History Center was stepping forward, to follow the example set by the EDWC.  I commended them on the courage it takes to look inward and face the need to change, and for taking the initiative to start shaping that change.

It is especially important that we transition all 4 of these organizations off of the tax levy within the next few years.  Projecting forward, it is clear that by about 2021 or 2022 we will not be able to fund any of these 4 organizations at any more than a token amount.  Rather than pulling the rug out from under them in 2022, working with them now to prepare them for self-sufficiency is tremendously important.

As someone who has an avid interest in History, and who once gave serious consideration to becoming a History Teacher, I am proud that the History Center is taking the approach they are taking, and I will stand with them as an ally in their work to become self-sufficient.  We may not agree on every detail, but I’m confident we’ll be able to work through those differences, and in the next few years we’ll have an even stronger, more independent History Center.

Past Promises:

I will reintroduce resolution to reduce County Board Supervisor pay and end per diems.
http://district3bossert.blogspot.com/2018/02/campaign-announcement-1st-promise-for.html

I will continue to refuse all mileage and per diem payments

http://district3bossert.blogspot.com/2018/02/campaign-announcement-2nd-promise-for.html

I will support reducing the size of the County Board

http://district3bossert.blogspot.com/2018/03/campaign-announcement-my-3rd-promise-to.html