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Multnomah County hears annual report from Levy Oversight Committee; OHS highlights new Portland exhibit
Summary
Multnomah County commissioners received the Levy Oversight Committee’s annual report on county history levy spending, heard East‑County museums describe programs enabled by levy funds, and learned that the Oregon Historical Society opened a new permanent Portland exhibit in June 2024.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday received the annual report from the Levy Oversight Committee, which reviewed how voter‑approved history levy proceeds are spent by five recipient organizations across the county.
Diane McKeel, co‑chair of the Levy Oversight Committee, told the board the panel reviews compliance with levy conditions and required reporting by recipients including the Oregon Historical Society, the Gresham Historical Society, the Troutdale Historical Society, the Crown Point Country Historical Society, and the East County History Organization. The levy was renewed by voters in May 2016 and May 2021, the committee said.
Sylvie Andrews, director of the Gresham Historical Society, said levy funding allowed the organization to hire a full‑time director and offer free admission five days a week, support rotating exhibits and a monthly lecture series, and launch a podcast and cemetery tours. "We thank the commissioners and the Multnomah County voters for their generous support of the history levy," Andrews said.
Christopher Garza, director of the Troutdale Historical Society, credited levy dollars with paying for security upgrades, planning moisture‑mitigation work at the Barn Museum in 2025–26, and sustaining a paid director. Garza said the society expects to save nearly $1,400 in 2025 from a new security‑vendor arrangement and reported more than $9,000 in interest earnings toward long‑term stability.
Sandy Cardeser, treasurer of the Crown Point Country Historical Society, updated commissioners on construction progress for a new museum building and inventory work to prepare collections for the move. A representative of the East County History Organization described a calendar of public events, exhibits and gardening work supported by levy funds.
Carrie Timchuck, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, reported that OHS is meeting levy requirements — including public hours, audits and free admission for Multnomah County residents — and described a new permanent exhibit, Rivers, Roses and Rip City, which opened in June 2024 and presents Portland’s history through themes of community, land and water. "We are the guardian and caretaker of Portland’s history," Timchuck said, urging commissioners to help publicize county residents’ free admission.
Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked for follow‑up materials they can share with the public, including a short blurb to remind residents about free admission. Several commissioners requested another tour of East County museum sites and the OHS vault to familiarize incoming board members with local history resources.
The Levy Oversight Committee said it will continue its twice‑yearly reporting and is prepared to consider requests from the incoming board for committee appointments.
