Family to pay for building’s heat, air conditioning unit

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The Eldridge Town Hall at Frontier Village is receiving a donation from a Jamestown family to help keep the building’s indoor temperature uniform.

The Frontier Village Association learned that the Jon Liechty family will donate the cost to have a heating and air conditioning unit installed in the building.

The building was moved to the village in May 2010 and in April the city of Jamestown agreed to fully fund a remodeling project estimated at around $23,000.

“I explained to him that was an item we didn’t have the funds for,” said Tina Busche, Frontier Village manager, referring to a heating and cooling system.

Previously the Jon Liechty family donated a doll collection to be shown at the town hall. Jon Liechty expressed preservation concerns and wanted a consistent temperature.

“We talked to Tina and she said she had an estimate of $6,500 for the cost and we said if it was in that area, it could be a little more or a little less, that we’d pay for it,” Liechty said after the meeting.

Without the heating and cooling equipment, Charlie Tanata, FVA president, said the building is almost complete, excepet for the outside paint job. He did not have a timetable for completion.

Two local heating and air conditioning companies will be asked to provide bids and Liechty will have a say in who is awarded the bid.

Jerry Rudnick, FVA board member, expressed concerns about the cost of construction of shelves for the dolls as well as a monthly bill for the heating and cooling.

Frontier Village is closed during winter months.

In other news FVA learned that the 2012 White Cloud’s birthday celebration was slightly more attended than last year’s — by five people.

From July 5 through July 8, Frontier Village saw 5,928 people pass through the main gate, according to Nina Sneider, Buffalo City Tourism Foundation director.

“I went to park my car for the fireworks at 4 in the afternoon (Saturday) and when I went out to the lake I knew where everybody was,” Sneider said.

Reasons the numbers stayed virtually even are the Fourth of July fell the in middle of the week and the Jamestown Reservoir was busy, she said.

“Frankly a lot of people were at the lake that day,” Sneider said.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, tourism