Center for History Requests Wheaton City Funds

The Wheaton Center for History is hoping that history repeats itself and it gets city funding.

The city funded the center at various levels until two years ago, when the city went through its first series of budget cuts, City Manager Donald Rose explained Saturday.

History center officials are requesting $225,000 to fund the center's operations. City Council discussed the request Saturday in the last of its three budget sessions, but the request does not seem to have much support at this time.

Councilman Todd Scalzo pointed out that the center pays $85,000 per year for rent for two sites—one on Front Street and one on Main Street. Alberta Adamson, president of the Center for History, explained that $85,000 is the total for a $7,500 monthly rent at the Front Street location and around $600 per month at the Main Street location.

Councilman John Prendiville said he supports funding the center, but $225,000 is too much.

Scalzo said he would favor paying the rent. He also said he is interested in the idea of moving the center to Arrowhead Golf Club and forming a partnership with the Wheaton Park District.

Adamson said that while the park district is supportive, officials seem to be interested only in the golf-related items in the museum and not the entire collection.

Councilman Phil Suess said he is not in favor of adding money to the budget and suggested the city help work out a long-term solution with the center. “I think there are other priorities” facing the city, he added.

 Councilman Tom Mouhelis and Councilwoman Liz Corry agreed. With the absence of a long-term plan, giving money to the center is like “throwing money into a black hole,” Corry said.

The City Council also discussed general government expenditures, capital improvements and capital projects.

General government: proposed expenditures are down about $44,000

• Mayor, clerk and council: expenditures are down about $230,000; Rose explained that this was where funds associated with the energy grant program had been placed, so expenditures with the account relate to the grants.
• City Manager's office: no significant change, but down about $25,000, "largely related to salaries," Rose said.
• Legal services: up slightly in the area of consultant services.
• Finance department: up $300 from last year
• Human resources: up about $17,000 from last year, largely due to personnel costs
• Information technology: remains generally the same
• Communications: no significant changes; proposed expenditures are down about $24,000 
• Engineering department: up $9,000 due to personnel-related line items.
• Building and code: expenditures are down $1,500
• Building and grounds fund: down about $6,600

Capital improvements:

• The city will transfer $500,000 from the general fund to the motor fuel tax fund for road programs; $185,000 will be associated with costs for the Butterfield Road widening program

Capital projects:

• Expenditures are for remaining work on the Wesley Street Bridge project and the North Main Street flood control project, totaling about $2.7 million, Rose said.