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Carter County hears museum expansion plan; commissioners approve job posting and discuss mill levy and PILT funding
Summary
Museum leaders asked the commission to approve a part-time paleontology field and lab manager position (32 hours/week at $20/hour) funded initially by BLM and Forest Service grants; commissioners approved advertising the job, discussed a major museum capital plan funded by a proposed levy and possible $1 million PILT contribution, and set an RFP schedule for an architect.
Museum representatives detailed a multi-part plan for expanding the county museum, including hiring a paleontology field and lab manager, launching private fundraising, pursuing grants and issuing an RFP for an architect to design an expanded facility.
Sabre Moore (speaker 3), representing the museum, said the proposed position would be a Carter County employee (county payroll), initially funded by BLM and Forest Service grant awards and administered through the Carter County Geological Society. The museum proposed advertising a part-time position (32 hours/week) at $20 an hour, with a start on or before Dec. 1; commissioners approved a motion to begin the hiring process contingent on HR review.
On capital funding, staff presented a draft budget and options that would use increased taxable value to levy additional mills and move surplus levy capacity into a museum capital fund. The museum presented figures showing private fundraising and grant match targets and a larger building project estimate; staff and commissioners discussed transferring reserves to a capital improvement fund to support the renovation.
Commissioners discussed using PILT funds as one source and a staff member (speaker 4) proposed committing $1,000,000 of PILT to the project as a possible option subject to further discussion. The commission did not make a final decision on PILT allocation during the meeting but asked staff to continue work and return with more detail.
The museum also laid out an RFP timeline for architect selection: advertise Sept. 8, hold a pre-proposal conference Sept. 18 at 2 p.m., proposals due Oct. 30, shortlist and interviews in November and December, with a shortlist presented to commissioners in November and potential interview windows thereafter.
Commissioners asked HR to review the job description before advertising and asked staff to ensure engineers are included in architect proposals for structural review; the motion to advertise the job contingent on HR sign-off carried with unanimous support.
