[Adopted 6-16-2003 by Ord. No. 5974]
A Parsons Historical Commission is hereby created for the City of Parsons with the specific purpose of establishing, maintaining and operating the Parsons Historical Museum.
The Parsons Historical Commission shall consist of 15 members to be appointed by the governing body of the City of Parsons. The first Commission shall be appointed as follows: five members shall be appointed for a term expiring the first April 30 following date of appointment, five members shall be appointed for a term expiring the second April 30 following date of appointment, and five members shall be appointed for a term expiring the third April 30 following date of appointment. Upon the expiration of the terms of members first appointed, succeeding members shall be appointed in like manner for terms of four years. Vacancies occasioned by resignation or otherwise shall be filled by appointment of the Parsons Historical Commission for the unexpired term.
Members of the Parsons Historical Commission shall receive no compensation for their services as members of the Commission; provided, however, that members of the Commission may be compensated for services performed as employees of the City of Parsons in connection with the operation and maintenance of the museum and other business of the Commission.
The Parsons Historical Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
To make and adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the Parsons Historical Museum.
B. 
With the approval of the governing body of the City of Parsons, to purchase or lease a site or sites and to lease or erect a building or buildings for the use of the Parsons Historical Museum.
C. 
With the approval of the City Manager and within its budgeted authority, to acquire by purchase, gift or exchange books, magazines, papers, printed materials, slides, pictures, films, projection equipment, phonograph records and other material and equipment deemed necessary by the Parsons Historical Commission for the maintenance and extension of the Parsons Historical Museum.
D. 
To employ such employees as the Commission deems necessary after approval of the City Manager and to remove them. Compensation for the employees shall be determined by the City Manager. The employees shall be under the supervision of the Commission but shall remain employees of the City of Parsons and shall have all of the obligations of such an employee.
E. 
To receive, accept and administer any money appropriated or granted to it by the state or the federal government or any agency thereof for the purpose of aiding or providing for a historical museum.
F. 
To receive and accept any gift or donation to the Parsons Historical Museum or Parsons Historical Commission and administer the same in accordance with any provisions thereof. If no provisions are specified, the gift or donation shall be held by the City Clerk and invested in some authorized municipal investment, and any dividends, interest, or income derived from the gift may be used by the Commission in the manner the Commission deems will best serve the interests of the Museum. As to money received from sources other than funds budgeted and disbursed to the Museum, in its discretion, such money shall be placed in a separate fund or funds by the City Clerk and designated for use by the Commission for historical museum purposes, unless the grantor or donor directs how and for what purpose the money shall be handled and spent.
G. 
To make annual reports to the City Manager and the governing body of the City of Parsons on or before January 31 of each year for the preceding calendar year, showing receipts and disbursements from all funds under its control, and showing such statistical information relating to materials acquired and on hand, number of museum patrons, museum services available, and other information of general interest as the governing body requires.
The Parsons Historical Commission, after its creation and establishment as provided by this article, shall be vested with authority to apply for and receive any grants for historical museum purposes from the state or federal government, or any agency thereof, with the approval of the City Manager, and shall be authorized to execute any agreements necessary upon approval of the governing body of the City of Parsons, on behalf of said Parsons Historical Commission, to receive any such grants, all in the manner as is now or hereafter provided by law.