Minutes of the Centerville City Whitaker Museum Board meeting held Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitaker Museum, 168 North Main Street, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Rebekah Barton, Chair

Richard E. Henrichsen

Frank Hirschi

Paul Smith

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Priscilla Todd

STAFF PRESENT:

Melissa Hogan, Museum Director

Connie Larson, Recording Secretary

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Minutes of the April 19, 2007 Whitaker Museum Board meeting minutes were reviewed. Richard Henrichsen made a motion to approve the April 19, 2007 meeting minutes as amended. Frank Hirschi seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

REVIEW EXISTING MISSION OF THE MUSEUM

Rebekah Barton distributed the proposed mission statement of the Whitaker Museum which states: “The mission statement of the Whitaker Museum is to preserve, restore and interpret the Whitaker Home; to create a living history museum. The preservation and interpretation of Centerville’s past, present and future; to design and implement education programs and resources to further the history of Centerville and the State of Utah. Build relationships with schools, the Historic Society, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Sons of the Utah Pioneers, youth groups, garden club, and other constituent groups to further the museum efforts.”

The Board discussed the statement and it was felt the statement is too broad and not complete. Paul Smith said the mission statement needs to be better defined to carry the unique story of the Whitaker Home and the history of Utah. Rebekah Barton said the potential for the museum is great because there are many aspects and timeframes that people need to be educated about.

Museum Goals: “To preserve, restore and interpret the Whitaker home; the preservation and interpretation of Centerville’s past, present and future. Create new programs and new educational resources designed to infuse the history of Centerville and the State of Utah into existing local and state institutionalized educational programs. The goals are to enable audiences to more fully understand the links between the Whitaker history, Centerville’s history, State of Utah’s history and their own lives. The museum’s significant and continuing impact will be a great public understanding of the relationship between our lives and the lives of those who have passed on before us.”

Paul Smith suggested having knowledgeable people actually demonstrating sericulture in the museum. He also suggested planting mulberry trees on the property of the museum grounds. He said if unique demonstrations are done at the museum that are not done in other museums, it will draw many people to Centerville from other cities and even states.

Frank Hirschi asked about grants that have been applied for to help with the work that needs to be done at the museum. Melissa Hogan said the grants have to be very specific on what is intended to be done before any funds are granted. She said money will not be granted to restore the museum as it currently is. Paul Smith said the Whitaker Museum is in the same situation as Heritage Park. He said there needs to be a continuous source of money each year to maintain continuity instead of depending on grant money year after year. Mr. Smith suggested building a reception center behind the home to rent out for wedding receptions that would generate revenue on a regular basis. Mr. Smith said the funds to build the reception center could be obtained from donated labor from the community.

Rebekah Barton questioned whether it is appropriate for the museum to be in competition with private enterprise. She said if they went ahead with the idea, a marketing strategy would have to be done on the museum, because of the availability of other reception halls. She doesn’t believe there are enough resources just in Centerville to provide the needed revenue. She said the museum would also be competing with Church buildings, and the reception center would have to be very unique in order to compete. Mr. Smith suggested duplicating the outside of a social hall or other historic building that was once in Centerville. Melissa Hogan said she would like to see the community come together to do the work that will be done, but she would also like to see a more maintainable building that is not complicated when changes are needed. Paul Smith said college architectural departments are always looking for opportunities for their students to do design projects, and he feels that these student resources could be used. Rebekah Barton explained that if the committee decides to go ahead with designs for an historic social hall type of architecture, she has information on social halls of the 1860’s, as that was the topic of her Master’s thesis.

Rebekah Barton asked the Board to study the mission statement and come to the next meeting with their ideas. She said when the museum was purchased by the City, they intended it to be a place for cultural gathering/history center, which needs to be kept in mind in reviewing the statement.



CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON SAFETY ISSUES AT THE MUSEUM – UPDATE FROM PRISCILLA TODD

The Board discussed the safety suggestions that Priscilla Todd provided. Frank Hirschi suggested items of concern be given to Police Chief Worsley, and ask for his ideas on what could be done at the museum for safety. Items of concern to be given to Chief Worsley are:



• Utmost concern is the safety of those who serve within the museum itself. They should be safe at all times with easy access to call for help.



• A panic button with a transmitter that can be kept on an individual and can be readily accessible.



• Camera systems – how effective are they?



• Outdoor lighting



• Door and window alarms



• Smoke, radon, and carbon monoxide alarms

Melissa Hogan, Museum Director, said she will meet with Chief Worsley and ask him to research these safety concerns and attend the next board meeting to give his report.

DISCUSS BUDGET SUBMITTED BY STEVE THACKER ON MAY 1, 2007 - $10,000.00 FOR MUSEUM

Melissa Hogan, Museum Director, said she met with Mr. Thacker on April 29th. He said he will put into the City Budget a request of $10,000 for education programs and other things the Board deems important for the museum to pursue. She said programs such as taking oral histories from Centerville residents and putting them into a computer database, July 4th pictures taken in pioneer period setting, Halloween pictures and old-time pictures with Santa Claus for Christmas in conjunction with the Centerville Recreation Department, genealogy classes, quilting classes, elementary school children touring the museum, historic walking tours. Paul Smith suggested a school outreach program for 4th to 7th grade children to tour the museum and other early historic structures to show the evolution of the homes in Centerville. He also suggested having live actors portray early Centerville residents.

Paul Smith suggested doing a “Whitaker Museum Party” similar to the party that is done once a year at the Wilford Woodruff home in Salt Lake City where the street is closed and a party is held at the museum for anyone who wants to attend. He also suggested doing maps of Centerville historic homes for schools, such as was done by Rebecca Mann on the sites and landmarks of Centerville.

Melissa Hogan stated the $10,000 can be used anytime between now and June of 2008.

DISCUSS ROD MORTENSEN’S PROPOSAL. IDENTIFY MOST PRESSING ISSUES. WORK ON A CONSENSUS PLAN TO SUBMIT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

Frank Hirschi discussed the items from Rod Mortensen’s proposal that are the most pressing for the museum that need to be done. They are:

• Both porches and rear additions be removed to allow handicap access.



• Roofs that are overlapping



• Pitch slope of three feet around the museum to protect from storm water.



• Driveway from Main Street to carriage house. Melissa reported a Boy Scout would like to do an Eagle Scout project of constructing a walkway running from south to north in front of the home.

Paul Smith suggested that a little history be added for every project that is done. Melissa Hogan said she will ask Rick Bangerter for an estimate on replacing the entire roof with a sawn shingle roof. She will also have Bruce Cox install a rain gutter to help keep storm water from running into the garage. Melissa suggested the Board tour the Eldridge Home in Bountiful and the Sorensen Museum in Draper for ideas on remodeling the museum. The Board discussed planting an old fashioned garden at the museum with plants from the pioneer era, and asking garden clubs to do the landscaping.

The Whitaker Museum Board will schedule a retreat meeting in the near future to discuss ideas on short-range, medium-range, and long-range goals to restore the Whitaker Museum to pioneer period.

MISCELLANEOUS

Melissa Hogan, Museum Director, reported the final report for the 2006/07 Project Grant is due to the Utah Office of Museum Services, and the Board reviewed the report.

Richard Henrichsen made a motion that the Whitaker Museum Board accept the Project Grant Report for the 2006/07 year. Rebekah Barton seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

Frank Hirschi made a motion to allow Melissa Hogan to use petty cash in the amount of $25.00 to have a booklet made describing the spinning wheel at the Whitaker Museum. Rebekah Barton seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (4-0).



NEXT MEETING

The next regular meeting of the Museum Board will be on Thursday, June 7th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.



ADJOURN

At 9:00 p.m., Frank Hirschi made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Rebekah Barton seconded the motion, which was passed by unanimous vote (4-0).