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COLUMBUS — Updates on the $700,000 “Save Our Opera House” capital campaign took center stage during the Sept. 25 City Council meeting.
In other business, the council also learned more about an upcoming vote to create an emergency services district and heard about parking lot repairs at Walmart.
During the public-comments portion of the meeting, Melissa “Missy” Parker, newly elected executive director of the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust, outlined efforts to bring what she said are much-needed repairs to the R.E. Stafford House, built in 1886.
According to Parker, the $700,000 price tag is necessary to restore the roof, elevator and first-floor bathrooms, as well as install restrooms on the second floor. The trust wants many of the restorations to be done by 2024.
The opera house originally had a bank and dry goods store on the first floor as well as a theater on the second floor. However, the “opera house” has never been used for a true operatic production, something that Parker hopes will change with the repairs.
Maintaining the nonfunctioning structure has been costly as well, she added. The historic Brandon House has already been sold to try to offset some of the cost, Parker told the council.
According to Parker, $150,000 has already been earned in fundraising efforts. She also said another donor will match any fund the city gives towards the restoration up to $100,000.
While the council could not make a motion on the topic since it wasn’t an agenda item, Parker said she and her committee of restorationists are hoping the donations and potential grants will allow the city to use the building for events and live productions including ballets and plays by the start of next year.
To learn more about the campaign, visit https://bit.ly/SaveOurOperaHouse.
In other business, Fire Marshal Brent Gorman discussed the upcoming town halls and an impending vote Nov. 7 to decide on bringing an emergency services district to Colorado County.
An ESD is a government entity funded primarily through property and sales tax to provide emergency services to rural communities. In many cases, an ESD absorbs local volunteer fire departments.
The first town hall is Monday, Oct. 2 at the fire station, 602 Spring St., where Gorman will discuss the benefits of ESD No. 1 to the volunteer firefighters and others in the area.
The town hall begins at 6 p.m. For more, visit www.coloradocountyesd1.com.
Also, part of the council proceedings included updates on several street repairs around town, including the parking lot at Walmart, 2103 Milam St.
The back lot behind the store is currently having its asphalt torn from the ground before being replaced and restriped. When that portion is done, construction will move to the front of the store as the entire lot is soon to be redone, council members were told.
