VFW receives long lease as it expands its military museum

Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 has a new 20-year lease, ensuring a long-term home for its museum expansion at the community building at 6206 George Bush Drive.

Katy City Council members approved the new $1-a-year lease on March 14. It clarifies an agreement the post has had with the city since it opened a smaller one-room museum honoring Katy-area veterans in 1995.

Post Commander Michael A. Mastrangelo said he hopes to have an expanded Veterans Memorial Museum open by September.

"This lease should pave the way for the actual construction," said Mastrangelo. "We are confident that, with the additional money in our post account, we'll have the kind of museum that Katy will be proud of."

Last November, the council approved $34,433 in hotel occupancy tax funding for the renovation, which will give the museum more space to display its collection of historic artifacts. Hotel occupancy taxes are paid by guests staying in Katy hotels, and must be used to promote tourism and the hotel industry. The veteran's museum qualifies as an "historic restoration or preservation project."

The renovation will involve both the old museum space and square footage added when the Department of Public Safety license bureau moved out last year. It will include installation of temporary walls and new ceiling tiles, as well as electrical, painting, flooring and lighting improvements.

In its application, the VFW said the purpose of the museum is to "help the community understand and appreciate the rich history of our military in the development of the country."

News reports about the museum have brought in many new artifacts, the post commander said.

"They come to us saying, 'I have a footlocker that belonged to my grandfather in World War II.' It's always amazing."

With all those new artifacts and new space to display them, the post commander promised the museum would be a "very meaningful addition to the city of Katy."

The new lease also clarifies ownership of the land and building, which were deeded to the city in the 1970s. VFW Park at the end of George Bush Drive was developed on part of that land.

According to city documents, the post originally acquired the property in the late 1940s and set up a separate entity to make sure it remained in local hands. When the post became relatively inactive in the 1970s, that entity deeded the property to the city, with a requirement that it be used for parks and recreation and also allow the post to meet there free of charge.

In 1990, when the post sought to regain the property as a permanent home, the city found its hands "completely tied" by the old deed, according to a letter from then-Mayor Ward Stanberry to then-Post Commander Robert Mosher. The post was allowed to establish a permanent museum in 1995.

For a number of years, the city also allowed the drivers license bureau to lease a portion of the building.

When the city agreed to a HOT grant for the museum expansion last November, Mayor Don Elder said it was time to clarify ownership and usage of the property via a new lease. Mastrangelo said post members have been briefed and "we're comfortable with the terms of the agreement."

According to the document, the post will pay electrical utility and liability insurance costs. The city will pay for water and gas, and building maintenance.

Councilman Larry Gore said he was happy to see the project moving forward.