How much is Des Plaines’ history worth?
How much is Des Plaines’ history worth? It’s a question city officials have been trying to answer for several years.
Des Plaines’ contribution toward the Historical Society, which runs the city-owned History Center, has declined in recent years as the city’s finances have been strained. The society also runs the Kinder House, a Des Plaines Park District property, and the Fisher-Wright House, which was donated to it.
The city council reduced funding from $166,000 in 2009 to $40,000 in 2010, and to $30,000 in 2011.
Last year, Historical Society President John Burke said officials were considering putting the now 95-year-old Fisher-Wright House up for sale.
This year, the society is seeking $35,000, but some Des Plaines officials are not convinced the society’s leadership has done enough to explore other revenue options.
During recent city council budget discussions, Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan questioned current society leadership, “is it for sale or not and why isn’t it for sale?”
Current society board president Mike Skibbe told city aldermen there have been no further discussions on the sale of the house and that he would rather not discuss property matters in public.
The three-bedroom bungalow, at 815 Center St., was donated to the society in 2002 by sisters Nancy Wright Meyer and Lois Wright. It was built in 1916 by Harry Bending.
Des Plaines 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten was supportive of keeping the home. He said property owners trying to sell in the present housing market would lose their shirts.
“I think if you have an asset, you need to wait until the market’s a little better to sell,” he added.
Yet, other aldermen pressed the issue.
“The History Center needs to make money from the property, generate rental income at least to cover the carrying cost,” 5th Ward Alderman Jim Brookman said.
The center went from having four full-time and three part-time employees to one full-time director and two part-time staff members, and its operating budget has been slashed by about 50 percent, Skibbe said.
“We are truly a bare bones budget at this time,” Skibbe said.
Even if the city allocates $35,000, the center would run a roughly $10,000 deficit. Society officials have approached the park district for additional funding.
History Center Executive Director Shari Caine said donations and fundraising efforts resulted in a more than $35,000 increase in revenue between 2009 and 2010. Society leadership also has plans to tap corporations and businesses for funding help.
“The money that we raise goes toward the preservation of these items for the public,” Caine said. “The beneficiaries are the public and citizens of Des Plaines.”
Walsten agreed.
“A lot of citizens, especially seniors enjoy the programs. Completely gutting it out of the budget is wrong,” he said.
The Des Plaines city council will revisit the funding issue on Oct. 20.