OCB notes withdrawal of Mid‑America Veterans Museum $15,000 sponsorship request; funds to remain in budget

The O'Fallon civic board (OCB) heard on June 30 that the Mid‑America Veterans Museum has withdrawn its request for a $15,000 marketing sponsorship for the "Light in the Shadows" fifth‑anniversary commemoration.

"We could not fund their full request but would choose to fund at a level of $15,000," Patrick McKeon told the board, and he said the museum's executive director notified staff that, because of "unexpected manpower challenges," the museum could not execute the marketing plan as proposed and therefore withdrew the request.

Board members discussed whether to renegotiate a smaller package the museum might be able to deliver. Kelly recommended leaving the $15,000 line in the budget as an unutilized item, saying, "No, I would recommend just leaving it in the budget and it becomes an unutilized item." Several members said they would be open to seeing a revised, lower request returned to the board if the museum determines it can carry out a smaller effort.

The museum's proposed event — described to honor 13 service members killed in an explosion during the Baghdad evacuation, including one person with ties to Saint Charles County and O'Fallon — remains scheduled, and the board did not reallocate the funds at the meeting. Members said staff can advise the museum to attend the July meeting with a modified request if timing allows.

Next steps: staff will leave the allocation in the budget as unobligated and the board expects the museum may return with a revised request at a future meeting.