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Council directs manager to recruit Masons and volunteers to help preserve Banks House
Summary
Council directed the city manager to contact the Masons about helping restore the Banks House at Riley Park and signaled the matter will be part of upcoming budget discussions; one member recused from the vote due to a stated affiliation.
Councilors discussed the condition of the Banks House, a relocated structure with some original timbers and long-standing volunteer efforts to restore it, and directed the city manager to contact the local Masons about potential volunteer or restoration assistance.
Council members noted past efforts fell short, that some original timbers remain and that the house has been the subject of oral-history claims including possible Underground Railroad associations that are still being researched by Parks & Rec commissioner Giovanni Johnson. The city manager said the house has not historically met criteria for formal historic designation because it was moved and elements were lost during relocation, though the city can revisit designation criteria.
A motion to ask the city manager to reach out to the Masons and report back for budget discussions passed after a roll-call vote; one council member announced a recusal based on membership in a related group before the roll call.
Why it matters: The Banks House is a local historic asset; preserving it has cultural and tourism implications and will incur maintenance or restoration costs that the council intends to weigh during the budget process.
What’s next: City staff will contact the Masons, compile potential volunteer or funding options, and present budget implications when the council considers capital and maintenance priorities.
