Outside agencies request funding from Charles City Council

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Council heard outside agency funding requests from four different civic organizations at last Thursday’s budget meeting.

The Charles City Arts Council, Crisis Intervention Service, the Floyd County Historical Museum and the Charles City Train Museum all requested funds.

The Charles City Arts Council, represented by Director Emily Kiewel and board President Ellissa Ellis, requested $3,000 for general operating costs, which includes wages, utilities, insurance, payroll taxes and supplies.

The Arts Council’s mission is to advance the understanding and appreciation of the arts in the community and help create an environment in which the arts and artists will flourish. The council provides art-centered education, monthly exhibits, a retail gallery gift shop and events throughout the year.

Mary Ingham at Crisis Intervention Service requested $2,000, with the funds going to support the outreach office and services in Charles City. Crisis Intervention has one full-time staff person providing domestic abuse services and one full-time person providing sexual assault services in Floyd, Mitchell and Worth counties.

Crisis Intervention provides comprehensive services to adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking and related crimes as well as families and individuals impacted by homicide.

The Floyd County Historical Museum requested $3,000, which will be used to host Heritage Fest on Saturday, July 30. Funding will be used to to rent portable restrooms, a dumpster, lawn games, craft and activity supplies, volunteer T-shirts and vendor and entertainment fees.

Heritage Fest is a free event to the community intended to provide a free family fun day at the museum. Last year more than 300 local and out-of-state visitors attended. Jennifer Thiele is the director at the Floyd County Historical Museum.

Bob Moen and Ralph Smith, representing the Train Museum, requested $20,000 from the city. The project will go toward the eventual use of the retired depot as an entrance to the American Passenger Train History Museum, and serve as a trailhead for the Charley Western Recreational Trail. It will provide restroom facilities, access to snacks and improved parking.

The organization has raised more than $360,000 and has successfully relocated the depot.