A MESSAGE TO STATE SEN.
TONY LUETKEMEYER
My name is Sheryl Biermann, I am a board member and Secretary of the Banneker School Foundation and Historic Site, located on West Street in Parkville, MO. But I am reaching out to you as a concerned Parkville resident that loves this community and the history the Banneker School represents.
I am writing to ask for your help with the House Bill 19, 19.347 for the fiscal year 2024, for a grant of $100,000 for the restoration of our 139-year-old Historic School House. As of this writing after the tireless efforts of our State Representative Jamie Johnson and the Platte County Industrial Development Authority, we still have no direction or help from the Office of Administration after several attempts to reach out to them. We are at a total loss as to why there has been no help, direction, or support to move this funding forward. We are ready to go now and have set restoration plans, and are working on surveys and ADA compliance, and we can’t continue to meet our goals without knowing this funding will be available. Our hope is to have most of the work completed by September 2025 when we will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the date the bricks were first fired in the kilns of Park College.
Since you were instrumental in the passage of this grant and care for and live in the Parkville Community, I know you realize how important it is to not stall the continued restoration of this important structure and its value to the Parkville Community. I am asking for your help to get an answer to the PCIDA so this can move forward. Without your help at this time, I am concerned the funding will not come through as promised by the finance committee and the hard work of yourself and Rep. Jamie Johnson.
Any help would be appreciated. Any communication to the OA office regarding the attached agreement would be appreciated. There can be no movement forward without the answers needed and requested by Tina Chase, Representative Johnson. Your help is vital to this funding and I am at a total loss as to why there has been such a long delay. It has been over a year that many have waited patiently for the state to follow through with the promise of this vital grant.
I appreciate your response in advance and hope reaching out to you will be the catalyst we need to move forward.
--Sheryl Biermann
Parkville
