By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

A new batch of Peoria Arizona Historical Society board members has been elected with plans to reopen the shuttered Peoria Central School Museum, 10304 N. 83rd Ave.

PAHS controls day-to-day operations of the museum in Old Town, which has been closed for the last year.

The newly elected officers include President Kevin Kosier, Vice President Erik McMorrow, Secretary Geri Fair and Treasurer Karen Garbe.

The vote also included the election of seven directors on the 11-person board.

Agenda items approved included removing old board members and adding new members to PAHS bank accounts and post office boxes, as well as removing Betty Osborne as statutory agent of the nonprofit. A new statutory agent was not considered.

Ms. Osborne could not be reached by press time.

Mr. Kosier is a third generation resident of Peoria, and his grandmother helped start the PAHS years ago. A number of members asked him to run for the position, he said.

“I was told the group could go away, so I got involved,” Mr. Kosier said. “I’m certainly no savior, but I really want to see this group and city thrive. So we want to move as quickly as we can so we can get the museum open as soon as possible, and restore it back to the image it used to be.”

In February and April of last year, the nonprofit received notices from the Arizona Corporation Commission that their 2016 annual report was past due, which could have resulted in dissolution. However, annual reports from 2016 and 2017 have been filed, according to the Corporation Commission website. The next annual report is due June 11, 2018.

Loretta Barmes, newly elected director and former president, said a PAHS meeting was called about a year ago without inviting board members and new board members were appointed. The museum, located at 83rd Avenue and Jefferson Street, has been closed ever since, she said. The PAHS board take-over was corroborated by other members at the meeting.

Minutes and a  treasurer report from that meeting weren’t readily available.

“Now it’s time to get everything up and running again,” Ms. Barmes said.

The five-building museum includes the Peoria Jail House, constructed as a Works Progress Administration project in 1939. Since its construction, it has served as a local jail, accommodated City  Council  meetings and  has served as the office for the Peoria Chamber of Commerce.

City spokeswoman Melissa Wenzel said Peoria has a contract with PAHS, leasing the five buildings for $1 per year. As part of the agreement, the city pays the utilities and maintains the buildings and landscaping. Annually, the cost to provide these services is about $19,250, she said.

“The Peoria historical society provides property insurance, maintains the interiors to the buildings, and is wholly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the society,” Ms. Wenzel said.

In mid-May, the city completed a formal approval and Request For Proposal process to begin work to upgrade the A/C units on the buildings and conduct wall repair in several of the buildings. This work is scheduled to start in August.

Councilwoman Vicki Hunt, who represents the area and was a former president of the PAHS, said the election of the new board is a step in the right direction.

“I”m thrilled this group has stepped forward to reclaim the historical society, and to once again make our incredible history available to the public,” she said. “I wish them well in this endeavor and look forward to the museum opening again.”