CTOM, conference center on council agenda

The Cleburne City Council will address the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, Cleburne Conference Center and other matters tonight.

The council will meet 5 p.m. at Cleburne City Hall, 10 N. Robinson St.

Council will consider a new lease agreement with the Johnson County Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum.

The CTOM, in operation since 2005, makes use of 10.73 acres of city owned land west of Lake Pat Cleburne along U.S. 67.

The CTOM includes Johnson County’s first courthouse, a Native American museum, one-room schoolhouse as well as other attractions detailing local and Chisholm Trail history.

“Due to the addition of several new structures and expanded usage of the property by CTOM, it has been determined that a new lease agreement is necessary,” Cleburne Economic Development Manager Grady Easdon said.

City officials to that end formed a CTOM committee last August charged with “providing direction and oversight concerning operations of CTOM and regarding collaboration drafting a new lease agreement.”

Pending council approval, the new agreement will require written approval from the city manager before any improvements can be made to the property and “ensure that all events open to the public are family friendly and depict themes that honor and celebrate the history, heritage and pioneering spirit of Cleburne, Johnson County, the state of Texas or the United States.”

The proposed agreement, among other things, also sets hours of operation for CTOM events from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. with exception of Sundays when they will be 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The agreement prohibits overnight camping as well as activities along the banks of Lake Pat absent written approval from the city manager.

Council will also address a proposal to terminate an agreement with the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce for management of the Cleburne Conference Center.

Council in 2010 approved an agreement allowing the chamber to manage and operate the conference center, an agreement that both parties last renewed in 2021.

“This agreement has benefitted the city for several years,” Cleburne Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Dobson said. “However,  with improvements to our organizational structure, the city is now in a position to supply the appropriate management and oversight of conference center operations. This change will also benefit the chamber by allowing them to focus on its core mission of supporting local businesses.”