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County museum asks commissioners to maintain $80,000 annual appropriation
Summary
Austin told the Dickinson County Board that the museum requests the same $80,000 operating appropriation as last year, highlighting new programming, an influx of visitors through Harvest Host camping and a toy‑tractor exhibit, LED upgrades aided by Evergy, and rising utility and insurance costs that pressure operations.
Austin, introduced to the board at the start of the meeting, asked commissioners to keep the county museum’s annual appropriation at $80,000, the same level it received last year. He said the museum had a strong year of programming — including a Pioneer program for visiting students, a 250th anniversary “Planes, Trains and Cowboys” event in partnership with Old Apple Town and Spok Railroad, and a successful toy‑tractor exhibit that has drawn out‑of‑state visitors — all of which have helped attendance.
"We are asking for $80,000 this year, which is the same that was given last year to us," Austin said. He noted the museum has begun a targeted marketing push, funded in part by a $4,500 community foundation grant for social‑media work, and that Harvest Host camping (overnight camping on museum grounds) has increased and brought visitors into the museum and gift shop.
Austin described several capital and operating pressures: inventorying and preserving more than 100 one‑room‑schoolhouse records recently received, ongoing repairs to historic structures (an Oakland cabin and work to preserve blacksmith shop equipment), and a shift to LED lighting through an Evergy program that provided partial funding. He told the board that municipal sewer and water costs, along with insurance bids under way, are likely to increase the museum’s operating costs.
On hours and staffing, Austin said the museum has reduced its open days from seven to five because of volunteer shortages and that the organization would need a roster of 20–25 volunteers to restore seven‑day operations. He also said earned revenue streams have been uneven: general visitation and admissions have dipped in some months, but overnight campers and special exhibits have produced new revenue.
The board asked several operational questions about hours, volunteer recruitment, and reserve balances. A commissioner noted that the museum’s CD and money‑market income help offset shortfalls but that the entity still runs at a budget gap. The board thanked Austin for the clear budget presentation and indicated they would follow up in subsequent budget work sessions.
The presentation concluded with commissioners expressing appreciation for the museum’s tourism and educational value to Dickinson County and acknowledging the broader budget challenges county staff will present later in the meeting.
