As required by its charter, the Wilson Brewer Park Foundation Board filed its first Annual Report with the City Council of Webster City and Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, on January 28.

“After being sworn in on July 17, 2024, the five foundation board members have been on a dead run trying to get up to speed on their responsibilities …,” Foundation Board Chair Doug Bailey said.

Acknowledging the crucial role new financing has played in setting up the new board, Bailey added: “Clearly, this venture would have been impossible to tackle without the $50,000 per year from both the city and county for the five-year period, combined with the $1 million Bowden family gift into an endowment.”

The body of the annual report describes the board’s work since its creation through December 31, 2024. Here are highlights, edited for brevity:

— Inspected all structures, noted issues;

— Inspected grounds, trees, concrete, etc., noted issues;

— Provided a “key lease considerations” document to City Manager John Harrenstein; at this writing the board still had not signed a lease with the City of Webster City, which remains the owner of the museum’s campus of six historic structures and museum contents.

— Worked with the Board of Supervisors, Peterson Construction and Schlotfeldt Engineering to restart work on the first Hamilton County Courthouse;

— Procured directors’ omissions and errors and general liability insurance plans;

— Assumed responsibility for payment of property and casualty and general liability insurance;

— Assumed responsibility for payment of the park’s utility bills and depot security system;

— Secured estimates for carpentry repairs;

— Secured estimates to repaint the depot, upgrade the depot main floor restrooms and construct depot platforms;

— Secured estimates for refurbishment and to repaint of caboose;

— Applied for a number of grants to address needs;

— Oversaw a year-end fundraising appeal that netted $7,000;

— Bought new computer for depot and subscribed to phone and internet service for depot;

— Joined Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, Iowa Museum Association and Central Iowa Tourism;

— Partnered with Webster City Area Chamber and attended Central Iowa Tourism Marketplace;

— Updated state and regional tourism websites to attract more visitors to the park;

— Assumed responsibility for investment accounts at Enhance Hamilton County Foundation;

— Purchased and set up accounting program for Foundation;

— Cooperated with the Chamber and Hamilton County Veterans Affairs to put on Octoberfest and Christmas in the City events at Wilson Brewer Park.

The Foundation board generally meets the second Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the depot basement. Meetings are open to the public.