Bellevue City Council Advances Plan for City Museum, Final Vote Expected by End of Month

Tonight, the Bellevue City Council has taken the next step toward establishing a city-operated museum, advancing an ordinance that would formally create the “Bellevue Museum” and position the city to take over the former Sarpy County Museum building.

The ordinance, which amends the Bellevue Municipal Code, has been publicly heard on its initial reading but must still go through the city’s required multiple-reading process. A final reading and vote are expected at the end of May before the measure can take full effect.

City leaders say the museum would be permanently maintained by Bellevue and serve as a central hub for preserving the community’s history. The plan also includes taking control of the building that previously housed the Sarpy County Museum, with the goal of reopening it under city management.

City Administrator Jim Ristow said the city is prepared to move forward quickly, emphasizing that the facility is already city-owned and in need of improvements regardless of its future use. Rather than leaving it vacant, officials opted to move ahead with establishing a museum to ensure historical materials are not lost or left in storage.

The timeline for transition depends in part on the departure of the Sarpy County Historical Society, which has been asked to vacate the building. While there has been some disagreement over the exact move-out date, city officials have indicated they hope to take control of the space soon after it is cleared—potentially as early as this summer.

Initial concerns about the building’s condition appear to have eased. While earlier estimates suggested nearly $1 million in repairs, city inspections have placed the cost much lower, at approximately $70,000. That reduced estimate has strengthened confidence that the building can be restored and reopened on a relatively short timeline.

Under the ordinance, the museum would be governed by an independent board of eight community members appointed by the mayor with City Council approval. Members would serve staggered four-year terms, and elected officials would not sit on the board.

The board would oversee exhibits, collections, and programming, while a museum director—appointed by the mayor and approved by the council—would handle day-to-day operations. City officials have already met with a potential candidate for the director position, signaling that planning is well underway.

Funding for the museum would come from a mix of city appropriations, donations, and potentially admission fees approved by the council. All funds would be placed in the city’s general fund and used to support museum operations. The ordinance also allows the city to accept donations of land, property, and artifacts.

The proposal includes accountability measures requiring an annual report to the mayor and City Council detailing visitor numbers, operations, and other key metrics.

The effort carries particular importance for Bellevue, widely recognized as the oldest continuous settlement in Nebraska. Founded in 1822 as a fur trading post along the Missouri River, the city predates statehood and has more than 160 years of incorporated history, with deep ties to early westward expansion.

If the ordinance receives final approval at its remaining reading later this month, it will take effect 15 days after passage, clearing the way for Bellevue to formally establish the museum and begin preparing the site for public use.