Museum Board

Platteville Museum Board Agenda: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 4:45 PM – 6:45 PM at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums Voting Members: (Quorum requires a minimum of 4 voting members) Larry Bowden Dick Davies (President) Eugene Tesdahl Joanne Wilson Superintendent of Schools Representative: Garrett Jones (Secretary) Common Council Rep.: Steven Badger Friends Representative: Deb Jenny PRESENT: Cody Grabhorn, Christina Grev, Deb Jenny, Eugene Tesdahl, Dick Davies, Joanne Wilson Board Liaison Cody Grabhorn, Museum Director Jamison Trustees: • Clare Bank (formerly State National Bank): Deb McWilliams • City Council: Steven Badger • Board of Education of Platteville School District: Matt Zielinski I. Call to Order: Dick Davies called the meeting to order at 4:45pm. o Approval of minutes from the January 21st meeting: Eugene Tesdahl moved to approval these minutes. Deb Jenny seconded. This passed by unanimous ballot. II. Collections Monthly Report (Christina Grev) o Collections Report a) Items catalogued: 113 items catalogued in PastPerfect for the month of January. This brings the museums to nearly 16,000 items in the catalog. b) Special Projects : Welcomed over 90 students from Westview Elementary in the first field trip of 2026. III. Director’s Monthly Report (Cody Grabhorn) o Museum Progress Report a) Attendance, Education, and Programs • General public visitation: 80 guests in January, some in February • School Field Trips: 93 students  • Brian Preston and Gerda Preston-Hartman Winter Speaker Series: 21: Mary Antoine will give the last session on March 19. • Museum After Dark event – 59 tickets sold 49 people attended. The temperature was cold, but spirits were warm. • Teachers Open House – Feb. 26: This is from 3-5pm. Teachers and administrators are invited to this new event. This should solicit feedback about how the museums meet educator needs. • Classes update – Bag making, Bread making, blacksmith: Kendall is developing hands-on classes. This will be a pilot to see if other classes will also meet community needs, fulfill mission, and bring income. Bob Rossdeutcher, a blacksmith volunteer for the Platteville Historical Re- enactment will lead one of these in September. b) Operations • Upcoming Grants – Institute of Museum and Library Services : Cody Grabhorn is applying for a grant to replicate an early miner’s dwelling, a “badger hut.” • A new exhibit on lighting is also underway. McCullough Creative of Dubuque, an exhibit firm, will partner with the museums on this project. • Finished Grant Projects – PCF Mannequin redress: This is largely complete. McCullough Creative may consult on mannequin repairs in the future. • Get to Know Your Museum Campaign : This is going well with a strong response. This series has also generated new followers on social media. • Photography Exhibit updates complete : This is ready for the mini golf event in March. • Boxing Squirrels Vitrine: A new display case is nearly complete. This will permit them to remain in good condition and remain identifiable as red squirrels. • Newsletter in progress : This is hoped to be done by the end of February with a release date of March 2. • Visiting Curator Project – UWP students: Dr. Eugene Tesdahl and a group of three undergraduate students, Ashley Weis (History), Emma Arneson (Social Studies Education), and Lydia Reuter (Social Studies Education) will collaborate on an exhibit this spring. This exhibit about miners returning home from work will re-imagine the hallway on the first floor. • Sigma Pi offering help with museum projects • City strategic plan and comprehensive plan: The city is building a strategic plan for 2026- 2030. Please contact Cody Grabhorn at (608) 348-3301 or museumdirector@platteville.org if you are unable to attend or if attendance requires special accommodation. • Deaccession process with Jamison Trustee c) Buildings and Grounds: A list of items was shared. Waiting to hear back. • Attic object relocation project • Staffing structure conversations: A possible collaboration with the library and the museums to have one centralized custodial staff. That could later extend to City Hall, Fire Department, and elsewhere. d) Strategic Plan Progress Report • See attached strategic plan progress report: A pattern is emerging that some schools come every other year for field trips. 2024 was about 1200 students, last year it was about 1600 students. We hope 1400 is the total for 2026. IV. Friends of the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums/Subcommittees Report (Deb Jenny) • This Saturday, February 21, 2026 is the Miners’ Ball • Mini Golf event is March 7, 2026 • Pasty Sale Pickup will be April 18, 2026. This remains a collaboration with the Walker House • Raffle ticket sales will start on Heritage Day (July 4, 2026 is a Sunday this year, America 250). • Raffle winners will be drawn on the Harvest Festival. V. Old Business o City Manager transition plan: Candidates have been interviewed. 2 or 3 finalists will get additional interviews in Platteville. This process has moved forward swiftly. VI. New Business o New Jamison Trustee: Matt Zielinski will not seek re-election on the school board. Jim Boebel appointed Ashley Oyen. Cody Grabhorn will offer her a tour of the museums soon. He will also share the trust agreement and ancillary materials with her. VII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:29pm. Next meeting: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 4:45 PM – 6:45 PM at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums.