By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
March 18, 2015

Editor’s note: Recently, the candidates running for the Third and Fourth District City Council seats were emailed questions specifically addressing concerns in the Northeast. The following are the first of several responses we received. Not all candidates replied. More responses will be published leading up to the April 7, primary election.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Last year, the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department assumed management responsibilities of the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall. Recent estimates of what it will cost to bring Corinthian Hall back to full usage range upward to $20 million. How will you help make the Kansas City Museum a vital community resource?

Jermaine Reed, incumbent running for Third District, In-District: The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall has been a treasure to the people of Kansas City for many years. The historic facility is in desperate need of repair due in part to changes in management and the age of the structure. The city is committed to revitalizing the superlative structure; however, it will take time to renovate this historic structure that was originally built in 1910.

The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, after retaining management of the facility, appointed an Executive Director to oversee the operations. The executive director has extensive experience in managing museums and a passion for Corinthian Hall.

The city has invested over $10 million into renovating the facility. Public and private partnerships are necessary to restore Corinthian Hall to its former glory. These partnerships include, not only fundraising activities; but also expanding community use and making the facility a central point of civic engagement.

Under the leadership of the Executive Director and the Kansas City’s Parks and Recreation Department, the building is being renovated and I support the implementation of activities that encourage community engagement and the Museum being a vital part of the community. In addition, I will vigorously advocate on behalf of the renovation efforts with leaders in the private sector to partner with the Kansas City Museum to make it once again a focal point in our city and a showcase of our rich history.

John Fierro,running for Fourth District, In-district: I will make the Kansas City Museum a vital community resource by helping to leverage resources (private/public) and by bringing together the residents, community businesses, various organizations, programs and events that fulfills its mission to preserve local area history. I see one immediate opportunity that aligns with the need for more youth programming as identified in both Quality of Life Plans developed by Scarritt Renaissance and Indian Mound neighborhoods – utilize the Museum as an educational tool for our youth.

I would like to jointly determine — with input from the neighborhood, Kansas City Public Schools, area charter and parochial schools, area universities and existing museums — how the Kansas City Museum can be used to help youth develop the core skills of critical thinking, synthesizing information, ability to innovate and think creatively, and collaboration.

Jared Campbell, running for Fourth District, At-large: I remember visiting the Kansas City Museum as a little kid. I was always in awe of the grandeur of Corinthian Hall and excited to visit the exhibits inside (and the soda fountain).

Between the programming, assets in the collection and executive director, the KC Museum is primed to become a wonderful community asset once again. Now that the transition is behind us, we need to focus as a community on completing the renovations. I believe the best way to do that is to form a committee of individuals that would represent the city, parks department and philanthropic community. It should be clear by now that the city doesn’t have the resources to pay for everything, which means we need to have a serious discussion about fundraising to help us close the gap. This public/private partnership would spearhead the fundraising efforts and bring more attention to the plight of the museum.

We live in a very generous community. It might take a while, but once the renovations are finished, the museum can become an anchor to help continue to improve the Northeast. The Kansas City Microbrews and BBQ Festival that will be held on the grounds of the museum later this year is just one example of the creative ways the museum can be utilized as a community asset and bring more people to the area. I think the museum can continue to develop as an events space, gathering area and civic institution. If Concourse Park is the backyard for the Northeast, the KC Museum should become its living room.

Bryan Dial, running for Third District, In-large: The Kansas City Museum is a jewel and must be fully restored to its original grandeur and beauty. I will work with the Board to ensure that adequate funding, both public and private, is raised to restore and support the facility. Advocate for continued collaboration with Union Station and the school districts of the city on visiting exhibits and educational tours to ensure revenue dollars are generated. Successful collaboration is key to the future success of the museum.

Jolie Justus, running for Fourth District, In-District: The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall is integral to the structure and fabric of the Northeast and a cornerstone of our city. I will work with neighborhood leaders and public and private stakeholders to secure funding and implement strategies to ensure that Corinthian Hall continues to serve as a vital community resource for generations to come.

Bryan Stalder, running for Fourth District, At-large: I have a plan to make Kansas City EPIC by focusing my efforts on Education, Parks, and Inter-Connectivity. The Kansas City Museum impacts all three of those issues, and so I would work closely with Museum Director Anna Marie Tutera to find a long term plan for funding the restoration of Corinthian Hall to it’s original magnificence. It is arguably the best amenity that the Historic Northeast neighborhood has to offer and my heart is broken, because for the past decade, many people have forgotten this attraction that used to bring visitors from all over our region to the Historic Northeast area. The most recent budget [proposal] has cut many parks services, including funding for the Kansas City Museum, in order to fully fund the costs of streetcar construction and operation. I’ve dedicated many hours to informing the public about the true costs of streetcars and worked hard to successfully stop the expansion. This saved the taxpayers over $250M in debt that would have made it exponentially more difficult to increase funding for things like The Kansas City Museum.