Advocacy for museum expansion gathers S.T.E.A.M.

Almost $10,000 was spent last month advocating for passage of the debt issue financing construction of a 7,000-square-foot exhibition gallery at Mid-America Science Museum, according to a report the committee formed in support of the measure filed last week.

The Mid-America Science Museum Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead campaign committee organized in June raised $25,000 through last month to promote passage of the ballot question Hot Springs voters will answer during a Sept. 11 special election.

Voting “yes” authorizes the city to issue $2 million in capital improvement bonds secured by the existing 3-percent sales tax the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission levies on prepared food and lodging inside the city. Early voting begins Sept. 4.

Museum Executive Director Diane LaFollette told the Garland County Quorum Court Monday night the expansion will attract sought-after exhibits, helping the museum further burnish the allure

it’s developed since completing a remodel in 2015.

The committee’s statement of organization lists Libby Vines, chairwoman of the museum’s board of directors, as its chair and fellow board member Carla Mouton as treasurer. Museum board members Brian Gehrki and Jeff Stephens are also listed as committee members, as is Noreen Killen, the museum’s chief operations officer, and LaFollette.

The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs Fifty for the Future Political Action Committee have been the advocacy campaign’s biggest benefactors, each contributing $10,000. Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods Inc. advertising firm contributed $5,000. The Little Rock company is the ad commission’s marketing contractor.

The campaign committee reported $9,682 in expenses last month, including $6,000 in consulting fees paid to 61 Celsius.

The ad commission said in June it will cost about $200,000 a year to service the debt over the 10-year life of the bonds, an obligation representing 2.33 percent of its $8.59 million in annual projected revenue.

The quorum court’s August agenda did not include a resolution of support for the bond issue, but District 12 Justice of the Peace Darryl Mahoney asked the court for an endorsement nonetheless.

“I would like to see the court support it as a whole,” said Mahoney, whose district includes the museum. “It’s good for the community.”

The committee said the Hot Springs Metro Partnership, the county’s nonprofit pubic/private economic development corporation, has given its endorsement.