By Laura Spencer
Kansas City, MO – City officials and Union Station continue negotiations over a new management contract for the Kansas City Museum in the city's Northeast. The previous contract expired in April and was extended for six months so disputes could be resolved. The city's Finance and Audit Committee meets today (Wednesday) and is expected to discuss the contract. Councilwoman Deb Hermann chairs the committee and says they're close to reaching an agreement.
HERMANN: But I'm so confident that we're going to get there that I wanted to put our foot in the door as far as getting something before the council. It would be certainly to the advantage to everyone...soon as come to agreement and fine tune...we can go forward on an ordinance and not be delayed.
Hermann says she expects the ordinance will be held in committee today but come before the full council within the next few weeks. Issues still under discussion include ownership of the museum's collection, the role of the museum's advisory board, and if Union Station employees should be residents of Kansas City because of funding from the property tax levy. Union Station officials are still hoping the issue will be resolved by the end of June when the accreditation committee of the American Association of Museums meets to consider the station's renewal application.