Bill Powers, a member of the Gary County Historical Society board, told the Junction City Commission the museum needs immediate help to keep operating and asked the city to consider a cash contribution of at least $10,000 for the 2026 budget year. "We are asking if the city would be able to contribute, and I know this is late in the game. I understand that, at least $10,000 to help us through the rest of this year. I want you to please consider that," Powers said during the public-comment portion of the meeting.

Powers described the Gary County Museum as a 100-plus-year collection housed in an historic building that requires climate control and ongoing maintenance to protect records, photographs and more than 100,000 artifacts. Heather, the museum education coordinator, told commissioners the primary museum building’s utilities are projected at about $24,000 annually and the museum operates six different properties that carry separate costs.

Commissioners discussed three types of help: a one-time cash award, in-kind city services for water/trash/sewer, and tying sidewalk/curbing/alley repairs into larger city street projects to reduce cost. City Manager Kim Zimmerman said the city could provide in-kind water, trash and sewer service for nonprofits but cannot directly cover electricity or gas. Public works staff said they had already walked the museum site with museum leaders and that alley and sidewalk work could be bundled with other municipal projects to lower the price.

Vice Mayor Gordon and other commissioners expressed concern about opening a precedent for many nonprofits to seek direct utility or cash assistance; several said they favored targeted, one-off help plus pursuing other funding sources including the museum’s endowment and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to table the payment decision until staff provided an estimate for the alley/sidewalk work, and until the museum makes a presentation to the CVB and the endowment board. The motion passed.

Next steps: city staff will return with a cost estimate for the concrete/curbing/alley work, the CVB and endowment will be asked to present funding options, and the commission will revisit the request at the next regular meeting. No cash award was approved at the meeting.