by Hillary Dickerson, editor
Excerpts courtesy of Galena Gazette
GALENA–The city of Galena and the Galena Foundation now have an official agreement regarding the restoration work to be completed at Turner Hall, a city-owned property on Bench Street.
After some wording concerns were raised at the Monday, May 11 city council meeting, the agreement was tabled until the agreement could be revised.
But during the Tuesday, May 26 meeting, all council members–Todd Lincoln, Pam Bernstein, Jerry Westemeier, Bobby Hahn, Charles Fach and Jerry Kieffer–were ready to move forward with the projects.
As part of the agreement, the Galena Foundation, working in cooperation with the trustees of the Joe Miller Trust at Illinois Bank & Trust, intend to commit several years of funds to the work at Turner Hall. “It is the intention of the Galena Foundation that it will take on 100 percent of the cost of this project and will not require the city of Galena to provide the normal 50 percent match of funds required in the foundation’s typical grants for historic preservation,” the agreement reads.
The work is estimated to cost approximately $180,000, including design and analysis, labor, materials, contingencies and fees. That amount includes completion of a Historic Structures Report, historic paint study, fly loft insulation and waterproofing engineering analysis, repair and waterproofing the rear stage wall, exterior balcony paint, a small roof over the side door, restroom updates, main floor refinishing, a locking gate to access the flyloft, upgrade of kitchen wiring, new roof on the kitchen, patch and paint exterior kitchen wall, flyloft insulation/waterproofing, exterior spot tuckpointing, dumpster enclosure, clean, repair and paint interior and replace stage floor.
In the agreement, the city commits to the project and agrees to fund the project through its general fund or municipal borrowing with any debt repayment to come from the Galena Foundation and the Joe Miller Trust.
The city agrees to hire Adam Johnson, a licensed architect, to prepare plans and specifications for the work.
Cost for the architect will be paid by the Galena Foundation.
If the city sells Turner Hall to a private party within five years of completion of the work, the city will return half the total cost of the project to the foundation, according ot the agreement.
“The Galena Foundation will then re-invest these funds in another historic preservation project involving a not-for-profit entity in accordance with the foundation’s bylaws,” the agreement continues.
