The City Council approved a $13,000 payment from the city’s charitable-gambling fund to pay for siding repair and repainting at Birchfield School, a historic one-room schoolhouse that city staff and community members said is a local landmark. The motion to approve was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.

Background and recent history: staff said the city has previously used charitable-gambling funds to support the school. Staff summarized earlier disbursements including a $6,000 contribution in 2016 and several payments in 2024 totaling roughly $102,000 (including phased requests that earlier council chose to fund). Staff reported the current charitable-gambling account balance at roughly $241,000 and said typical annual receipts vary between $20,000 and $40,000.

At the meeting Birchfield School representative Bonnie Maui (spelled in the transcript) described the needed work as siding replacement and repainting and said volunteers and past fundraising had paid for other repairs including a new roof and chimney. Councilmembers asked whether the group had pursued grants and donations; Bonnie said they had conducted fundraising appeals and the group is relying on the city contribution to finish the current work before winter to avoid further damage.

Why it matters: the school is an historical asset the city has previously helped protect. Charitable-gambling funds may be used for certain community-support activities; staff reminded the council those funds have statutory restrictions on permissible uses and that the city typically does not audit recipient expenditures — the city issues funds and the recipient is expected to steward the money for the stated purpose.

Council actions and follow-up: the council approved the $13,000 payment by voice vote. Councilmembers also voted to direct staff to develop a set of proposals and options for future permissible uses of the charitable-gambling fund (staff and council mentioned ideas such as art projects, park amenities, and support for community recreation), and to bring those options back for council discussion. Staff noted the city issues checks to recipients and does not require invoice-level auditing for every expenditure; evidence of past work (new roof, chimney) was cited in the meeting as visible, completed work.

Discussion vs. decision: the $13,000 award was a formal council action that passed. Council separately directed staff to prepare proposals for potential future uses of the charitable-gambling funds; no final reallocation or program changes were made at the meeting.

What’s next: staff will compile and present options for permissible uses of the charitable-gambling fund at a future meeting; the school will receive the approved funds to proceed with siding repair and painting.