Route 66 in the News
Route 66 Museum to be Added
2007-11-08 20:07:40
CARTHAGE, Mo. - Contract details are still being worked out, but the installation of a Route 66 museum in the lobby of the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage is moving closer to reality.
Eric Kellstadt, senior transportation planner with the Joplin office of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said MoDOT auditors and attorneys have reviewed the contract between the department, Brad Belk, who will be assembling the display, and Jasper County.
Belk, director of the Joplin Museum Complex, said his attorney was reviewing the contract, and he hoped to present it to the Jasper County Commission for their review on Friday.
MoDOT awarded a transportation enhancement grant of $98,869.82, which came from the Federal Highway Administration, back in May. The county will match the grant with $29,641.56.
Kellstadt said MoDOT auditors and attorneys took a while longer to review this contract because the department has not funded very many museums.
"You'll find in our district that most of our transportation enhancement funds typically go to sidewalks or trails," Kellstadt said. "We've only funded one other museum project, it's the Oronogo Street Car Depot, and it's not as far along as this project is. The simple fact that we've never done a museum project before in the district meant we wanted to make sure everything was correct contract-wise. All transportation-enhancement projects are required to be available for access by the public for 25 years."
Belk said he was limited in what he could say about the project until the contract was finalized, but he said his attorney was reviewing the deal.
"I'll sign off on the contract and then the county will review it," Belk said. "If there are no problems, we'll send the contract for final approval to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Just getting this contract out of the grasp of the highway department's auditors is major progress."
Belk said he's planning an exhibit that is more than just a case of artifacts, but until the contract is signed he can't even make plans for the display. The Jasper County Courthouse and Beautification Board will likely participate in planning the exhibit.
~John Hacker, Carthage Press
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