Jackson County budget panel backs Mellon-funded updates to Fort Osage exhibits

At a Jackson County Budget Committee meeting, members recommended perfection for Ordinance 6012, an appropriation of $108,000 from the undesignated fund balance in the 2025 grant fund to accept a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation via the Kansas City Monuments Coalition for improvements to Fort Osage National Historic Landmark.

The grant, described by Parks and Recreation staff as "year 1 of a 2 year grant," will fund updates to the Fort Osage Education Center’s permanent exhibits, including audio, video, graphics, lighting and low-tech interactives meant to broaden the site’s interpretation of the 1808–1822 period. "The parks department is excited to be awarded funds from the prominent private foundation of Andrew w. Mellon by Kansas City Monuments Coalition to benefit Fort Osage National Historic Landmark. This is year 1 of a 2 year grant," said Diane Kimsey, Parks and Recreation staff.

Committee members asked whether prevailing-wage rules would apply to the project. Parks staff said the county will use a general contractor and that the contractor pays union-competitive wages; committee members and staff indicated prevailing wage applies "per the statute." Manny Abarca asked about prevailing wage requirements during the discussion.

Concerns about how history would be presented were raised by Committee Member Donna Payton, who asked whether the grant or project would lead to removing or "watering down" elements of local history or that exhibits be changed for federal or other policy reasons. Parks staff and the museum supervisor said no current exhibits at Fort Osage would be removed as part of this work and that the additional interpretation would "add to discussions of, Native American influence, in the region, discussions that, would also cover the lives of enslaved individuals at Fort Osage." Amy Cole, supervisor of the Missouri Town Living History Museum, said some exhibits are currently closed while staff work through recent NAGPRA discussions and seek documentation and approval from tribal authorities.

The committee moved and seconded a recommendation for perfection; the clerk announced that Ordinance 6012 "will be recommended for perfection." The appropriation covers planning and contractor work to update visitor experiences at the education center.

The county said term and supply contractors will be used to complete the work; Parks staff did not specify contractor names beyond describing contractors as compliant with applicable requirements. The grant is the first year of a two-year award; further funding and schedule details were not specified at the meeting.