City Council - Special Meeting

Can we have some quiet, please? Hello. Thank you. Welcome to the Waterl City Council special meeting on the proposed property tax levy. Roll call, please. Uh, Mr. Schmidt, here. Mr. tomorrow here, Miss Kraton Smith here, Miss Barry present, Mr. Salamanca here, Mr. Martin here, and Mr. Simon here. We take a just a moment u to recognize a moment of silence, prayer, and reflection. Whatever each and every one of you choose to do.

Thank you. Tonight's pledge of allegiance will be by Dave Marl, War 2 city council person. [snorts]

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Simon, I'd like to make a motion to approve approval of the agenda as proposed. Second. There's a motion in a second. All in favor? All oppose? Same sign? Motion carried. And I would also now like to open the floor up for um a public hearing for the uh fiscal year 2027 property our proposed property tax levy. There second.

Second. I have a motion to second. All in favor? I oppose. Same sign. The hearing is now open. We ask that you come up one at a time, state your name and your address, and uh you'll be limited to three minutes. So, there's so many people here tonight that when the when the three-minute buzzer rings, we're going to ask you to to stop. We're not going to extend time. So, everyone here tonight has an ample opportunity to speak. I'm Margaret Moy, the executive director of the Grout Museum District, home of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. Uh before I begin, I'd like to ask everyone in who's in the audience in support of the Grout Museum to stand up or flag or raise your hand.

Board members, staff, veterans, community members, these are the people that I represent and several of them do plan to speak this evening. And I want to first acknowledge that something very directly. The city of Waterlue did not create this funding situation. State legislation did. and I understand that the council is working hard to make the best decisions for all of its constituents and I appreciate that and I'm come before you as a partner and not as any kind of adversary. I've been on a very steep learning curve since my arrival 18 months ago, but I have a clearer grasp of what's working, what needs to change, and what strategies will move us forward as we deal with these changing uh funding needs. Knowing that the funding had a sunset date, we've already made hard decisions. staff layoffs, reduced working hours, sold vehicles, closing the Imaginarium building, and developing a creative and sustainable model to provide children's science programming. We've not shied away from the difficult choices. Of our 1.4 million operating budget, 23 comes 23% comes from earned revenue, 16% comes from private donations, 17 from grants, and 44 from the contracted city funds that are at issue. At this budget cycle, our plan is to bring a development staff persons specifically to grow public uh private giving to rebuild corporate rel relationships, grow our endowment for a stable yearly allocation, and expand our grant portfolio to reduce that 44% over time. But these strategies do take time to implement and prove successful. We need 100% of our funding this budget year to ensure that that transition is successful. We're not just a local cultural institution. 22% of our visitors come from outside Blackhawk County. We drive regional tourism and research from the Iowa Economic Development Authority confirms that arts and culture visitors spend nearly $31 beyond admission permit generating ripple effects for local businesses, restaurants, and hotels. We're part of Waterlue's economic development strategy, not separate from it. The

story of the Sullivan brothers is a powerful one. Their story is not just Waterlue's story. It's Iowa's story. It's an American story. and veterans and families from across the state and the country stand in our museum to remember, to honor the sacrifice, to make sure that it's never forgotten. We are about the community's promise that veterans and their service will always be recognized here in the city where the Sullivan brothers called home. That promise deserves to be kept. I ask that you honor to fulfill our full funding allocation this year so that we have a runway to build something sustainable and that that promise can endure. Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause]

Hello, my name is Henry Corf, 326 Alvarado Avenue, Cedar Falls, Iowa. I am a trustee of the Grout uh museum complex, which includes the Five Sullivans Veterans Museum. I'm a veteran of 33 plus years and um joined back in 1982. Um I I love the museum. I've been through it. It's it's comparable from a exhibit to exhibit to our national museums from the Smithsonian all the way down to our World War II museum down in New Orleans. I challenge you as a council that that money is not yours. That levy was voted on in 2015 by the citizens of this county and it's called the cultural and scientific facilities levy. It is not called a water city operational levy. So to consider those funds into your budget to offset the deficits that you've created is a crime. It would be like me taking my son's savings account to balance my family budget. So I challenge you that those funds are not yours to even consider to use for city uh financial needs. those funds, as Margaret outlined, over 40% of our budget. As you noticed, the Imaginarium is closed. If you take half of that budget, over $300,000, that will severely handicap us as a museum. We're going to have to lay people off. Our services are going to be denied. So, give us that bridge. I've already talked to the state legislature and uh tried to understand get them to understand this that this levy was voted on by the people and our politicians to include yourselves are taking that away from the people and that is unconstitutional in my mind and I'm a conservative voting Republican and I

think this is ridiculous that you're even considering using those funds for state I mean for your city fund uh budget. So, that's all I have to say. Don't take away um don't use funds like I would use my son's funds. They're not mine to use and they're not yours to use. Thank you. Thank you, sir. [applause] I'm also a trustee of the grout, Mary Potter. I think most of you know me. Uh I think that over the period of time, your address, please. Oh, I'm sorry. 1416 West 4th Street, Waterl, Iowa.

Thank you. uh over the the time that we have had the grout there. I wonder how many of you have even been in the grout. I think that there are a lot of you that do not even know anything about the grout. I don't think you realize the importance it plays in Waterlue. I don't think you realize the amount of people that come to Waterlue specifically for the grout and a few things like that. They do not come to see council meetings. They come for good purposes. That generates money for the hotels, restaurants, everything else. We have something very special here that we do not find in most of our cities. And I think it is very wrong that you are saying, "Oh, we have all these debts and everything, so we can't do anything with it." It's your choice what you're going to spend it on. If you're going to spend it on things that do not bring in visitors, you're going to be losing. And I think you need to look at the broader picture. You need to really understand what the grout is doing for Waterlue and support it. I know many of you do not even have a membership of the grout. And I feel very badly about that because this is one of the leading things that people come to Waterlue for. I know you have one. I know Steve has one, but too many of you do not. And I think you all need to get a membership, visit the grout. We're having many, many fundraisers there so that we can both expose people to the grout and also ask their membership to be a part of it. So, at the very very least, you should be supporting the Grout with a membership if nothing else, coming to some of our events, seeing what the grout is all about, and deciding this is something we do want to keep. We do not want it to go by the wayside. Thank you.

Thank you, Mary.

Hi, Ryan Malichek, 1552 Pinnacle Place. there uh Ryan Malichek 1552 Pinnacle Place Waterlue. I also am a board member and trustee at the Grout Museum. And what I would like to bring forth as a concept tonight is what is community? When I moved here over 20 years ago with my family, it was to raise my daughters in a small town that still had a lot of attractions, amenities, and and a cultural diversity that screamed community. The grout is a big part of what I consider Wateroo's community. My daughters are now out of my home. They're all over the country. And the one thing they all remind me of is, "Dad, when we went to museum school at the Grout, we learned so much about Waterlue. It was one of the most beneficial things I did in my entire time growing up in Wateroo. And for my daughters, out of all the experiences they've had in life, to say that about the Grout Museum speaks volumes to me because that is something that has stuck with them and and to me that amplifies what community is and why the grout is important and why these funds are so needed uh to support and continue uh value here in Wateroo that tracks people and keeps them reminded of who we are and what we have. So I I would I would really appreciate everybody's support and continuing to levy funds that the citizens of Wateroo have voted for for the Grout Museum. Thank you.

Thank you, SIR. Good evening. My name is Bonnie Smith Davis, 702 Lorraine, Waterlue. I'm here to go on record an unwavering support of the Gro Museum District and the Sullivan Brothers um Veterans Museum. In uh 2015, voters made their voices clear by approving that levy of 27 cents per 1,000. While uh 2023, state legislation consolidated these funds, the intent of the voters remains unchanged. I urge you to honor that mandate. A 20% cut to the grout's funding is more than the budget line item. It is a withdrawal from our community's heritage. My connection to the grout began when I was five years old, walking hand in hand with my parents into the pioneer section, Laura Engles Wilder. I didn't just see history, I touched it. The spark of curiosity led to a 30-year career in education K through 12 in college and my work as an active volunteer in Waterlue today. The grout in Waterlue connects people. It's a place where accessibility is a priority and where people of all ages experience hands-on reality in an increasing increasingly screenbased digital world. It opens up the door for conversation where grandparents and grandchildren touch history together. Most importantly, the grout is a sanctuary for our hardworking, dedicated

heroes. Whether they were servicemen, veterans, professionals, farmers, or workers of the Cedar Valley, whatever the position, they deserve a permanent home that is fully funded and respected. Their stories need to be shared. Some of them gave everything in those exhibits. Their uniforms and their words make them real human beings to us, not just pixels on a screen. Two of these stories are deeply personal to me. Documented within the walls are my father, Berkeley Smith, a longtime Waterlue civic leader, businessman, lawyer, and pilot of 72 years, and my brother, a retired Air Force Major General, uh, Bruce Smith, a decorated military war hero. We have already seen the Blue Dorn Science Imaginarium close its doors due to aging facilities, financial uh challenges, and le levy funding. We cannot afford to lose any more of our children's future. From the galaxies of the planetarium to the inspiration and courage found in our galleries, the Grout uh district teaches us who we are. We build our futures on relationships handto hand and heart to heart.

Thank you ma'am. Your time's up. Thank you. Appreciate I appreciate all your comments. [applause] [clears throat]

Good evening uh mayor, city council. It's good to see so many familiar faces and citizens out here. I am glad to join my voices with their litany. Jim Bush camp 181 Prospect Waterlue. I'm here today to advocate for the continued support of the Grout Museum and the Five Sullivan Brothers. citizens voted to support this landmark and in a constitutional republic it would seem that they are the only ones vested with the power to alter that decision. The Grout Museum is just not a collection of artifacts. It is a cornerstone of our community's identity. For over a century, it has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and showcasing the history of Waterlue and the surrounding Cedar Valley. From the rise as a railroad hub and a vibrant area industrials epicenter to the stories of immigrants and community leaders. The museum serves as a reminder of our past has shaped the vital city that we know today. It provides residents and visitors alike with a tangible connection to our roots, reinforcing the importance of remembering where we come from as we go forward into the future. The Five Sullivan Brothers Museum, meanwhile, holds a uniquely significant role in honoring Iowa's veterans. It is not just a memorial. It is a place of education, reflection, and reverence for those who sacrificed so much. Through the preservation of verbal

histories and military artifacts, the museum offers invaluable insight into the personal stories of veterans and their contributions to America's freedom. These oral histories allow future generations to hear firsthand accounts of the courage and resilience displayed by Ians in times of war. Ensuing their legacy is never forgotten. My own oral history and artifacts from NAM reside there. Furthermore, the museum stands as a powerful tribute to the Sullivan brothers who paid the ultimate price for their country during World War II. Their story is one of sacrifice that transcends time and serves as a potent reminder of the real cost of freedom. By supporting these institutions, we are not only honoring their memory, but also reaffirming their collective commitment to preserving the values of service, sacrifice, and patriotism that define our nation.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening, everyone. My name is Kelly Sullivan and I live at 2228 West 8th Street in Cedar Falls. Thank you, mayor and city council for having me here tonight. I'd like to ask that you support the Grout Museum for many reasons that I'll tell you. And you also have an email in your box, city council members supporting that. I am an educator in Cedar Falls. I teach third grade. Um I've been with museum school since the beginning of it. My third graders love it. And when I say it's amazing, it is fabulous. At the end of the year, they make a little third grade memory book where they write about what their favorite part of third grade was and what they learned the most and they always put museum schools. So, the kids really, really learn a lot. Um, I'm also the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, one of the five Sullivan brothers that was killed in World War II. So, I'm here in honor of my family. My grandmother was 93 years old when she voted for this levy that you guys did and she went to pay for those taxes. She has since passed. My father who I'm here representing too is a resident of Warloo is now living with dementia. He also voted for that for the money to be used for the museum as it was said. So I'm here also as a Sullivan representative. I have been they've been they've said that I'm the most active sponsor in the US Navy and that's because I love to hang out with sailors and drink beer. I'm not gonna lie. But um I bring a lot of people to the area. This museum brings a lot of people to the area and I don't think you guys even understand that. Many admirals, captains of the Sullivan ship, um, secretary of agriculture, uh, governors, politicians, we have so many people. Over my spring break, I hosted 25 people from DHY, Iowa, um, and did a tour. So, we we get a lot of people that come and it brings money to the community. So, um, as a Sullivan family member, I would ask that you would support this and also because I am at the Grout Museum often doing tours and I don't think you understand what we have here. This is a wonderful asset that we have in our community in

Waterlue and I think we need to uh we need to protect that. And last, I agree with what he said. This is extremely unconstitutional. Um, I'm a third grade teacher so I stay home and I stay away from politics because I choose joy. But, um, I know what you're doing is unconstitutional. It's it's just not right. That's not what my grandmother, who was a World War II widow, voted for. That's not what my dad voted for. And if I was a resident, if I was paying taxes in Waterlue, I'd really have a problem with that with this decision. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

My name is Corey F. Champagne. I'm the commander of the American Legion in Water, Iowa. I am your primary veterans organization in this town and I want to concentrate on the Grout Museum and just what it does in terms of supports to veterans especially when we're getting into 250th anniversary. It is more important now for us to show everybody the importance of the Grant Museum and the history of the veterans. So with every with all the comments that have been made so far and I agree 100% with every one of them. What I'm going to do also is provide a solution. I went into your simulator and I thought I gave it figured out a good solution where you can balance your budget without touching the grout, without touching the police, without touching the ambulance, without touching the fire. And I will present this to my councilman, Mr. Salamanca Royal. Um, and all due respect, mayor, I'm going to ask you to live up to what you stated to me uh several weeks ago when you visited American Legion that you supported the veterans. And by supporting the veterans, that means you're supporting the grow. That's all I have. I apologize. I live at uh even though I'm an American Legion, I live here at 3713 West 9th Street, right near the Mercy Hospital. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir. Hello, mayor and council. My name is EJ Gallagher. Uh, I'm a trustee and a board member of the Grout Museum. Uh, I've been involved in the grout since I think sixth grade. On my way in here, I saw the memorial to the sandbagging that occurred in 1961. I actually got to do that and I was going to the grout back then. Uh sir, can we get your address? I'm sorry. 801 Sheridan Road, Waterl, Iowa. Thank you.

Yeah. And I wasn't born in Waterl, but I moved here when I was six months old and pretty much here the rest of my life.

Uh I um wanted to say that uh this is a family thing for me. My father was very active in the grout and very much involved in getting the Veterans Museum. Uh my son is a museum member. Uh he's interested in dinosaurs among other things. he did his ego project there and I'd like to see that we pay it forward for the young people and for that matter uh you know their children to have this great museum uh Kelly mentioned uh oh how the various people that come here uh to see the veterans museum and other things at the grout. My dad was in World War II on the ship Chenangle which was a carrier and he had his reunion here for his ship. It was a wonderful event and I know Kelly did a wonderful job of talking about her family. U we need to keep this uh I think everybody probably knows that the motto of the Sullivan family was we stick together and we need to stick together for Waterlue and keep this thing going. It's the best thing to do and uh as people said it's the right thing to do because of the fact that it was approved by the people. Thank you.

Thank you sir. Good afternoon. [clears throat] My name is Mike Wagner and I reside at 1034 Wendy Road in Waterlue. [clears throat] I'm a US Army veteran between active duty and reserve service. I spent uh served for 18 years. I'm not a native Ian. I moved here with my family in 1988 to work at the University of Northern Iowa. One thing that struck me favorably about this community as I got to know it was the respect it had for the military service and how that was uniquely represented in the Grout Museum and the remembrance of the Sullivan brothers. In a continuation of that show of respect, most recently, as I know you're all aware, the Waterlue achieved the recognition as a World War II heritage city. Our thanks go out to prior mayors Hurley and Hart along with many others participating citizens for that work. At this time when the US has once again committed its military to action, however dubious the reasons, we must recall the times when our military was deployed in the service of preserving freedom in the face of fascist threats emanating from Europe. The extensive exhibits in the Grout Museum recall us to a time when the United States was the hope of the free world. Now is not the time to reduce the financial support for this important local institution. Rather, it is a time to affirm our support for its ideals that it represents and the resources it provides

and to spend our tax money for that purpose for which we voted. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. George Meek's um resident 609 East Donald Street citizens for 60 68 years um and to the to mayor may Mary and council I um I really don't have much to add to what's already been said by my my veterans sisters and brothers and miss Sullivan and of course Miss Miss Margaret and married. She she'd been come here for years. But on a on a light side of things, I think long as I've been coming to the council, me, this is first time I've people been approached to mic without taking a hat off. And that's not a that's not a slam, but I I appreciate I appreciate that. And and I was going to I was going to turn and tell Henry to take his cap off, but it he he he went all right. I'm I'm saying that uh I don't know if any I think I'm stepping out. I think many of you might might have ch grandchildren, but one of the one of the highlights on on the on a Wednesday meeting at the grout is when the when the young people when the third third graders come in and and I really have been flabbergasted about how many third graders actually have have parent even one had had a parent that that served and all of them have grandparents that has served. And so in in their tour of the museum, they get to come down and and share the pledge of allegiance with us and and and we exchange flags and they they give us thing they had written out in appreciate of of service veteran and that's and that's that's heartwarming that. So that's and and it seemed like it's easy choice because according to what's been said, it's already been perpetuated what you have to do. So thank you.

Thank you, sir. Retired Colonel Heidi Holman Warrington. I live at 525 Martin Road in Waterlue. I'm here to give a voice to female veterans that live in our city and the female entrepreneurs and the females that are leaders and have been leaders in this community since it was formed. They may not have always been at the mic talking, but I served in the US Army for 34 years, 41 countries, five wars. And when I came home, who gave me the recognition as a female warrior? The Grout Museum, the military side of it, their oral histories, everything about that museum speaks to number one and number three of your mission statement. It brings your community together. What brings the East Waterlue and West Waterlue together more than the brothers and sisters at arm that have served on behalf of not only our state but our nation and a free world. It would be a travesty to close down the Grout and the Sullivan Brothers Military Museum. Every Wednesday, that venue serves for coffee and camaraderie for between 40 and 60 veterans here in our community. And every Wednesday there's a class from a neighboring school that comes and meets and greets the veterans. They get a flag. We talk story with them. We even recruit maybe some of the brilliant ones for future military service. But what I want you to understand is it is a place of community. Regardless of what neighborhood we came from, doesn't

matter if you're Air Force blue, Space Force, we know the Army's the best. We got Navy here, okay? Marines, but it's it's what brings us together without those bound boundaries that the river arbitrarily set and has divided our city for a long time. We had a because of my father Curley Haltman, his relationship all these years um with NATO, we before his passing a year ago, we had some NATO officers come from Sweden and from Belgium to come to Waterlue on his behalf to see him. Their comment was the Grout Museum to include the military part of it and the John Deere Museum rivaled any museum in Europe or anywhere in the world. And by golly, they'd been to most of them, I believe. So, the quality is there. We need the support. Yes, I agree. I don't want to say it as strongly as my friend did about that it's illegal for you to do it because I'm a nurse, not a lawyer, but to heal our community and to continue to bring it together. Please, not only fund it, increase the funding.

Thank you. ANYBODY else wish to speak on any item on our budget, not just the grout?

Good evening. I'm Carolyn Carpenter. I live at 717 Grindstone Circle and I also am here to support continued funding for the Grout Museum District. I was born in 1952. So I was one of the first generations I was the first generation to enjoy the Grout Museum. And that's all it was then, the Grout Museum, not the Grout Museum District as it is now. And um I learned the love of learning and became a lifelong learner there at the Grout Museum. I found such joy in experiencing everything that was there from the rocks and minerals to the Indian artifacts, Pioneer Hall, which someone mentioned, um which my grandchildren still love Pioneer Hall. It hasn't hardly changed in iota, but why should it?

It's Pioneer Hall. Um, but it helped broaden my worldview and develop my love for learning and my appreciation for Iowa and our local history. And so I took that love of learning and I used it to work in museums the rest of my life. And um, I enjoyed sharing that love and enhancing the museum experience for others as the ed education director at the grout for seven years. And um I also want to add that I have a vested interest in the grout as a family member of several people that have uh oral histories in the collection. Uh we have given many family artifacts related to those oral histories as well as personal items that are being preserved in the grout collection. And that's another thing you must you must take into consideration that they are preserving and caring for a huge collection that tells the story of each and every one of us and this community and where we came from and hopefully give us ideas of where we're going. So now I've I've moved ahead a few years. Now, I'm a grandma and um I raised my children in the museum and specifically now I had spend a lot of time with two 12-year-old twins and it's been fun to watch them go from the stage, the whack-a-ole stage in the museum. Have you ever been there? Push all the buttons and see what happens. And now at 12, I love seeing them realize that if they go to that world map about World War II and they push a button, they can see on that map and learn about the story of what happened there. It's not whack-a-ole anymore.

It's it's exciting to them that they can learn something new. and the dog tag um activity that they can go through the museum and swipe their dog tag and learn about um people that were from Iowa and in the military. Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate your comment.

Hello, my name is Jess Cruz. I'm at 119 South Hackett Road in Waterlue. I am the exhibits coordinator for the Rod Library at uh University of Northern Iowa. I am also an adjunct professor in [snorts] history, teaching, and museum studies. You can tell that the Grout is a very well-loved institution. And I can tell you from a professional perspective, it is worldclass. It is amazing. And museums are important, right? They're not only important to us individuals, but they're important because they reflect back to us as a society what matters, right? the the collections that we choose to collect, the stories that we choose to tell, we are saying that these are important and they're worth worth preserving. If you choose to reappropriate or misappropriate these funds, you're not only telling the people of Waterlue that their votes don't matter, you're telling them that their stories don't matter.

Thank you, ma'am. [applause]

Hello. And uh thank you the service personnel and public. Thank you guys. Uh name is Ethan. Um just a regular res resident. You have a last name Ethan? Ethan Asville. And I live at 2829 Lafayette Street, Waterl, Iowa. Uh just a regular warehouse worker. Um dad was a Navy man.

Unfortunately, he can't be here. Um he passed away from complications from Agent Orange. But he would not be happy if I could say one thing um about not supporting our veterans. I grew up going to the grout. Um I uh I really appreciate the experience I had through there with my teachers. Um I have lived here all my life and I know my mom was a champion uh of the arts. Uh she uh finished her tenure before she died um at the her center. Uh I can I just you know this is my first time doing this and I appreciate you. Um, I just I don't think um taxation or levying money from a necessary commodity of our community. We need that. We need that for our children. It's getting stale here. My wife talks about moving all the time. I'm just letting you guys know that. I have eight grandchildren. I'm 45 years old. I have five kids. I work really, really hard every day. um if we don't have the money. My question is um where are the taxes going on my property taxes that I've been in the past two years they went up almost double. So there's that I like to question and uh I just I I really I live paycheck to paycheck. I don't know where any more money would come from if it would you know we need to figure this out internally in my opinion or have more talks about this because I can't keep paying more and I know everybody else can't keep paying more. Um, you know, I live paycheck to paycheck and I just I appreciate you. I will be more involved in city meetings and let you know how it is from I'm not on the board of trustees. I have no type of money. My mom passed away two years ago. I'm financing her house right now and it's just very tough. So now I have to pay my property taxes which are more and my mom's because she's passed away until I get the estate figured out. So um that's just real talk. I you know I appreciate you guys listening. Um, real people are

struggling out here in Wateroo and we need more support. Um, and taking that away is not one of them. So, thank you very much. Thank you, sir.

Phil Krogue, 1016 Ash Street. Hi guys. I know most of you uh through my my dealings through the [snorts] city. Uh, the Grout Museum is one of those places that's been an institution for as long as I can remember. Right. Everybody here, we we're the veteran community. We're the only voice that we have. And that's a place that we call home. I know that the budget is tough and obviously there's a lot of people struggling. I was one of the dear layoffs, but this is a vital part of our history. and we have to do more to protect that. That's all I had. They took the rest of the good comments.

Thanks for your time, guys. Thank you, sir.

Hi, good evening. Uh, my name is Tom Connors. I live at 1304 College Street in Cedar Falls. I teach history at the University of Northern Iowa and I'm on the grout's board. Um, I feel strongly about this. Our history education and museum studies programs partner with the Grout. We send interns there. One of our fine interns is here tonight. Um, they train the Grout staff volunteer to train future members who can work in museums and keep our heritage alive. I wanted to say too um that I've observed over the past uh year that I've been on the board how the grout is trying to adapt and adjust and and change the runway to for a l safe landing uh for what uh these these cuts are going to bring. Um and we've seen them consolidate the imaginarium, not close it, but consolidate the footprint to save money there. Um, I've worked with them uh to partner on grants to bring more money in. Um, but I think this is critical to the community. Uh, a year or two ago, I found on eBay a letter from the Sullivan brothers sisters, Genevieve, that was written during the Second World War on Waves stationary and talked about her parents and how much she missed her brothers. And there was only one place for it, of course, the grout. I immediately gave it to to Nick Ericson and it's there now. This is where the heirlooms of the community go. This is where Waterloo's treasures are preserved and kept and cared for. This is where the memories are recorded. It's critical to the identity of of Waterl Iowa. I just want to kind of conclude by saying um the taxpayers and the citizens have spoken on this. Their voice is is very clear on what this money should go for. the state legislature has determined that that doesn't matter. Um they don't really care what people here have to say

about had to say about this and where this money should go. Um so we're waiting to see what you feel about that and I hope you'll make the right decision and support something that's so important to our community. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Does anyone else out there wish to speak to the budget?

Kevin Mason, 310 West Park Lane, Waterl, Iowa, Ward 5. Uh, I am also from the UNI history department and I'm the newest member of that department. I chose to move to Waterlue in the last year and the Grow Museum had something to do with that. When my wife and I were here looking at houses, thinking about where we wanted to live, one day we spent the afternoon at the grout and we were drawn by the stories of the people of Waterlue that are preserved within the Grout. Whether that's our neighbors who are Bosnian refugees, whether that's the vibrant black community of Waterlue, whether that's the legacy of innovation in this community or the proud record of service, those are things we wanted to be a part of and we first saw them at the Grout Museum. As a lifelong Ian, I also see the wide ranging ripple effects of the grout across the state through things like the Iowa Veterans Project, which has preserved not just Waterlue's stories, but the stories of veterans from counties across Iowa. As somebody who taught at another college in Iowa for the past decade, I would bring my students to the Grout Museum to experience the level of professionality and just uh high quality that was taking place with the staff at the Grout Museum. I see it every single day as a history professor at you and I. Whether it's my students who first fell in love with history at things like museum school or just hearing the stories of the communities of the Cedar Valley at the Grout Museum or through the partnerships that we formed that others have already talked about. Um I also work with museums across the state and region. I'm currently the chair of the board of trustees for the state historical society of Iowa and I can say given the adequate runway the staff and the plans in place I think given the time and the ability for the effort uh to bear fruit it will I think there are

uh incredible things happening at the grout museum that mirror the incredible things that are happening in our community at large um I thank you for listening and I think that um you're morally and ethically obligated to continue to faithfully steward the levy funds that were voted on by the people of Waterlue. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else that wishes to speak on any items on our budget for this budget hearing tonight? Hello, my name is Liam Christensen. I live at 45 West Jefferson Street here in Waterlue. Uh, I'm new to Waterlue. I'm a senior at the University of Northern Iowa. I'm the intern that Dr. Khan was talking about. And as kind of an outside perspective, I just want to say that intern at the Grout is an unbelievable experience. It is truly a fantastic museum. Uh, I text my dad and called my dad who is a veteran. and he's an Air Force vet about coming and visiting the museum all the time and just the excitement and he just cannot believe some of the stuff that's there and I think that we have to do continue to do a great job at stewarding like Dr. Mason said, stewarding these objects and making sure that this great staff at the Grout Museum has the funding necessary to continue their great work. And it's not only children. I hear a lot of hear about like kids and grandkids. Uh I recently brought my grandmother to the Grant Museum and the sense of wonder in her eyes was the same as the third graders that come. So this is something that impacts not only our youth and speaking as somebody who is 21 years old, it does impact the youth but also

our older generations too get a benefit of this museum and it's such a great institution. I just think that we should continue funding it to the best of our abilities and fully and honestly increase funding honest to be fair. But that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak for any items on our budget grout or any items in particular? Mr. Mayor, Mr. Simon, see no more questions. I would like to make a motion to close the public hearing.

Second motion in a second. All in favor? I opposed. The hearing is now closed. Does anybody from the council wish to make a brief statement? Otherwise, we're going to be discussing this. We have a work session next Monday and then we will be setting our tax levy the following council meeting. Mr. Mayor, Smith looking at me. um I could not share briefly. So I will just say that my sentiments were stated over and over and over again from um the hearts and minds of the people.

Thank you. Ditto, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Mr. Simon,

I I think um just on behalf of all the people that have taken the time to send me emails, um your your loyalty and your commitment and your is not unnoticed and I think everybody up here in their hearts do want to support the grout to the fullest extent possible that we can. I don't think anybody here is anti- grout by any means. So, I want everybody in the audience and everybody watching at home to know that the council is tirelessly working to try to find funds to to do a lot of things in Wateroo, but grout being one of them and that's very heavy on everybody's mind obviously uh with your guys's presence here and announcing it too and I think you've struck a chord with everybody up here and I think it's not gone unheated. So, uh I would like to say that like I said we would like I think we would like to find a way to to fund it. Now, everybody knows that we have a tight budget and we we get just as many people saying that we have to cut this or do that. And and so I I just want to on behalf of the council that have to make tough decisions, let you guys know we're going to do the best that we can. And I I want to make sure that everybody knows that, you know, it's not easy decisions that we make up here. And there's a reason why nobody's fighting to get up here because these are tough decisions to make. And but we do hear you and I think we are going to try to work hard. At least I am for sure. And I and I I've met these people long enough and know them enough that we are going to do our best for for you guys. So thank you.

Thank you, sir. Anyone else? Mr. Mayor, it's Barry.

I had the opportunity to meet with Margaret today and learned a lot and I want to thank you Margaret for that uh taken the time to meet with me. My dad was a veteran so I can relate and brother for that matter and I can relate to all the things that you everyone has said today. Um for me um I what caught my attention the most was the fact that this was a levy vote. Correct. And um the citizens voted for it. So, the way it sounds to me, and I don't want to speak too quickly, but my heart says it only makes sense that we support it, and I'm going to work with this council in every way that we can to figure out how to make that happen. But I but I can't shake that fact that there was a vote of the citizens. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[applause] Mr. Mayor, Mr. Salamanca, uh, first off, just want to say thank you to everyone who reached out, emailed me, phone called me, stopped me while I was walking. Uh, I appreciate it. Uh, as a veteran, I understand the significance of the Grout Museum. At the same time, I understand the significance that is thrusted upon us to make decisions on a budget. So, I just want to take this moment to thank you all for coming. Thank you to the veterans that showed up, to my fellow veterans. We're in for a ride, but I appreciate you all and thank you for entrusting us. Thank you, sir. Mr. Schmidt,

Mr. Mayor, I also would like to reiterate what's been said that I want to thank all the folks that attended tonight. In my previous 12 years on the council, I don't think I've gotten anywhere near the number of emails and phone calls and texts as I have in support of this uh proposal. So, uh I know I personally am very supportive of the Grout Sullivan Brothers Museum and I would just encourage you all to you know pay close attention over the next few weeks because you may have an opportunity to come back and share some of your thoughts again as we get closer to decision time. So, thank you very much for coming. [applause]

Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Um, in my one month on the council, I have never received so many emails like Mr. Schmid did in 12 years. But anyway, there's been a great outpouring. I understand everyone's thoughts. Uh, and I am aligned here with the group to support the grout to do the right thing and to move forward. We understand. We hear. Thank you. Mr. Martin, Mr. Mayor, thank you, sir. I guess I'm the last one. I can't go on without any but not least,

last but not least, [clears throat] thank you all for the emails. Um, I don't reply to emails because I'm keeping my thoughts to myself right now. Um, I do believe that everybody is in the on the same page. We understand and we know what the grout gives back to this community. We also have to look at what the other opportunities of the future hold for it. So not saying that I'm not in support of it, but saying that I may support it. What I'm saying is we have to understand that we have to look at every avenue balancing the budget to the best of our abilities and making the right decisions. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. And I'd like to personally thank each and every one of you for coming out here tonight for your public comments. I I appreciate your passion and your support for the grout. And it's going to be a tough budget. We'll figure it out. It just depends on on how much people want to pay. So, uh we'll work through it. We'll we'll make it right. We've got a couple of meetings. We'll be setting the budget the second meeting in April. So, with that, can I get a motion to adjurnn? So, move. Second move as motion to and and second to adjurnn. All in favor?