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Ainsworth council approves concept and fundraising direction for Sellersville Park museum restoration
Summary
After reviewing bids and remediation estimates, the council unanimously approved the museum committee's project concept — demolish the north addition, restore the original cabin and pursue grants and fundraising — and gave the group permission to seek funding.
The Ainsworth City Council unanimously approved a project concept to restore the Sellersville Park (Barton) Museum and authorized the museum committee to begin fundraising and pursue grants.
Museum committee members described multiple bids and estimates to stabilize and restore the log-cabin structures and to remediate mold and clean artifacts. Committee members said the cost estimates included roughly $35,000–$37,000 for basement repair/demolition and stabilization of the north addition, $54,000 (Wicket Construction) and $47,000 (alternate bid) for log and exterior repairs, and a lower-cost artifact and building clean of about $29,500 offered by a regional environmental services firm versus a much larger, more labor-intensive option of roughly $131,485.
The committee’s recommendation was to remove the unsalvageable north addition, restore the original 1936 log cabin (jack and replace bottom logs), preserve the east addition and perform environmental remediation and artifact cleaning. They asked for council approval to pursue grants, accept matching donations, and proceed with fundraising; the committee emphasized that accepting the concept did not mean immediate construction would begin.
Councilors discussed grant timing, the need to advertise and secure formal bids for public projects, and the prudence of using lodging tax or other local matching funds only if they would not jeopardize larger matching grants. One member noted the potential need to involve the state historic preservation office because the building is over 50 years old.
A motion to allow the Barton Museum committee to move forward with demolition of the north addition, pursue funding for restoration of the original cabin, maintain the east addition and remediate mold and artifacts passed on a unanimous roll call (yes votes recorded in the transcript). Councilors stressed the committee should work with city staff on grants, public-bid requirements and engineering or preservation reviews.
Ending: The council’s vote authorized the project concept and fundraising; committee members will continue grant applications and return with formal bids or requests for city expenditures if and when required.
