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Destin council directs staff to clarify ownership of historic artifacts at Destin History & Fishing Museum
Summary
The council voted to have the city manager and city attorney review ownership of two large artifacts (the post office and the vessel "Primrose") currently under care of the Destin History & Fishing Museum and to seek a memorandum or deed restriction to formalize custody while preserving reverter rights for the city.
Jason Belcher, treasurer of the Destin History & Fishing Museum, told council on Feb. 18 that two large artifacts the museum cares for — the historic post office and the vessel known as the Primrose — have ambiguous ownership. Belcher said the museum has custody, but paperwork and records are inconsistent about legal title; the ambiguity prevents the museum from applying for some preservation grants.
Council directed the city manager to work with museum staff and the city attorney to research ownership, prepare a recommended mechanism to formalize the relationship (for example, a memorandum of understanding, a quitclaim, or a deed restriction), and include a reverter clause so ownership would revert to the city should the museum cease to exist. City Attorney Kyle Baumann confirmed state laws govern transfers of municipal property and that staff will examine records to see whether the city previously conveyed title.
Action: Council voted to have the city manager and city attorney review and report back. Council also asked staff to work on an inventory and to return with recommended documentation to allow the museum to pursue grants and repairs (Belcher asked for repairs to the vessel before its centennial celebration in May).
